
National Security Research Fellow
Expertise: Veterans, Military Health & Fitness, Asymmetric Operations, International Organizations, Civil Society
Lucas Brooks is a National Security Research Fellow at The American Security Project, where he leads the veterans and military obesity portfolios. Before coming to ASP, Lucas served in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer leading mounted and dismounted anti-armor and reconnaissance formations, advising commanders, and working directly with soldiers on fitness and readiness. He finished his military service in Special Operations, serving as the Chief of Staff and Deputy Operations Officer of Task Forces deployed to the Middle East and Europe and working with host nation and international partners on counterterrorism and strategic competition.
Outside of the military, Lucas has worked with international NGOs, local civil society organizations, and UN agencies both in headquarters roles and in the field in Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East. His work aimed to bridge ground realities with national and regional decision making and inform policies to better serve local communities.
Lucas holds a Master of International Affairs (MIA) degree from Columbia University where he focused on development and security, and a BA in Government from Georgetown University. His studies and travels center on exploring different perspectives and the impacts of US and international structures.