See background information at www.commonthreadpodcast.com/washington-dc. Nora Bensahel is a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at American University. She is an expert in defense policy, military operations and force structure. She has also held positions at RAND Corp. and Center for New American Progress. She frequently co-writes a column with General David Barno, Strategic Outpost, for the War on the Rocks blog. In this episode we discuss the role of women in the military and the existing impediments to leadership roles. We go on to discuss veterans, the future of warfare and touch on cybersecurity.