Great Power Competition with Russia: Does it Matter?

About the topic

As the United States faces national security threats from all over the world, great power competition has emerged as the encompassing term to address aspiring and rising powers. With a great deal of attention placed on the U.S. relationship with China and Chinese geopolitical goals, should U.S. competition with Russia be a priority for national security? Is U.S. policymaking surrounding competition with Russia focused on the right issues? And how can we learn from Russia to better inform how the United States deals with great power competitors in the future?  

About the speaker

Catherine Sendak is the Vice President for Policy/Projects for Business Executives for National Security (BENS).

Prior to this post, Sendak was the Principal Director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy from 2018 to 2021. In her role, Sendak led efforts on addressing national security priorities including great power competition with Russia and stability and security throughout Eastern Europe.

Before her time at the Department of Defense, Catherine was a Professional Staff Member on the House Armed Services Committee. She has over a decade of Capitol Hill experience, starting her career on the Senate Armed Services Committee before moving to the House in 2010. She served on the Full Committee Policy staff, conducting oversight of U.S. European Command and NATO, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Northern Command, Department of Defense Counternarcotics and Global Threats programs, and Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster Assistance and Civic Aid.

Prior to the House Armed Services Committee, Sendak served in an advocacy role for a nonprofit organization specializing in veterans issues. She served as the Chief of Legislative Affairs at the Wounded Warrior Project, where she focused on legislation concerning caregiver compensation, post-traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic brain injury.

Sendak holds an MA in the History of International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA in Political Science from James Madison University.