Rebeccah L. Heinrichs

Senior Fellow and Director, Keystone Defense Initiative

heinrichs

At A Glance:

Rebeccah L. Heinrichs is a senior fellow and director of the Keystone Defense Initiative. She specializes in US national defense policy with a focus on strategic deterrence.

Biography

Rebeccah L. Heinrichs is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute and the director of its Keystone Defense Initiative. She specializes in US national defense policy with a focus on strategic deterrence.

Dr. Heinrichs served as a commissioner on the bipartisan Strategic Posture Commission, which was created in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. She also serves on the US Strategic Command Advisory Group and the National Independent Panel on Military Service and Readiness.

She is an adjunct professor at the Institute of World Politics, where she teaches nuclear deterrence theory, and is also a contributing editor of Providence: A Journal of Christianity and American Foreign Policy.

Dr. Heinrichs earned her doctorate in defense and strategic studies from Missouri State University, where she graduated with distinction. She received her MA in national security and strategic studies from the US Naval War College and graduated with highest distinction from its College of Naval Command and Staff, receiving the Director’s Award for academic excellence. She earned her BA in history and political science from Ashland University in Ohio, was an Ashbrook Scholar, and currently serves as a member of the University's Board of Trustees.

She lives in Virginia with her husband and their five children.

Events
14
October 2025
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Czech-US Defense and Security Forum
Featured Speakers:
Zbyněk Pavlačík
Ambassador Tomáš Pojar
Kristýna Helm
Radka Konderlová
Lt. Gen. Leonard J. Kosinski, USAF (Ret.)
Mislav Tolusic
Jan Jireš, PhD
Marek Polčák
Katie Wheelbarger
Brandon Tseng
Michael Madsen
Lorenz Meier
Vice Admiral Jeffrey Hughes
Sean Cantrell
Jerry Javornicky
Václav Kobera
Amb. Miloslav Stašek
Moderators:
Jan Havránek
Webpage Graphic
14
October 2025
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Czech-US Defense and Security Forum

This forum will bring together American and Czech officials, defense experts, and industry leaders in Washington, DC.

Webpage Graphic
Featured Speakers:
Zbyněk Pavlačík
Ambassador Tomáš Pojar
Kristýna Helm
Radka Konderlová
Lt. Gen. Leonard J. Kosinski, USAF (Ret.)
Mislav Tolusic
Jan Jireš, PhD
Marek Polčák
Katie Wheelbarger
Brandon Tseng
Michael Madsen
Lorenz Meier
Vice Admiral Jeffrey Hughes
Sean Cantrell
Jerry Javornicky
Václav Kobera
Amb. Miloslav Stašek
Moderators:
Jan Havránek
10
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Deepening Russia-China Partnership
Featured Speakers:
John Lough
Sergey Aleksashenko
Moderator:
Getty Images
10
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Deepening Russia-China Partnership

Join Hudson Institute for a panel discussion on how the United States and its allies can combat the rise of this authoritarian alliance.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
John Lough
Sergey Aleksashenko
Moderator:
06
October 2025
Past Event
Sustaining the Nuclear Peace
Featured Speakers:
Frank Miller
Brad Roberts
Chris Ford
US Air Force F-35 Lighting IIs and a B-2 Spirit fly over Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Alaska on August 15, 2025. (US Air Force photo)
06
October 2025
Past Event
Sustaining the Nuclear Peace

At Hudson, cochairs Dr. Brad Roberts and Dr. Rebeccah L. Heinrichs, study group member Dr. Christopher Ford, and Scowcroft Group Principal Frank Miller will discuss the report and its recommendations.

US Air Force F-35 Lighting IIs and a B-2 Spirit fly over Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Alaska on August 15, 2025. (US Air Force photo)
Featured Speakers:
Frank Miller
Brad Roberts
Chris Ford
24
September 2025
Past Event
Peace Through Strength: A New Strategic Review for a New Nuclear Age
Featured Speakers:
Keith Payne
DVIDS
24
September 2025
Past Event
Peace Through Strength: A New Strategic Review for a New Nuclear Age

Join Dr. Rebeccah L. Heinrichs, senior fellow at Hudson Institute, and Dr. Keith Payne, president and cofounder of NIPP, for discussion about the report’s analysis and recommendations.

DVIDS
Featured Speakers:
Keith Payne