Daniel Mahanty is the Director of the US Program for the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC). Through research and advocacy, he promotes the adoption of US Government policies and practices that serve to limit the harm experienced by civilians in armed conflict. Prior to CIVIC, he spent 16 years in the US Department of State, where he created and led the Office of Security and Human Rights. In this role, he oversaw the integration of human rights in US security assistance and arms sales policies and coordinated US Government efforts to prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers. Mahanty holds a master’s degree in national security policy from Georgetown and a bachelor’s degree in economics from George Mason University. He is an adjunct professor at Kansas University Center for Global and International Studies at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas and a non-resident Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.