Natalia Simmons-Thomas is pursuing an MA in Security Studies with a concentration in intelligence at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. Natalia graduated from The George Washington University in 2019 with a BA in International Affairs and Chinese Language & Literature. In 2017, she received the U.S. Department of State's Critical Language Scholarship and completed an intensive language program in Xi’an, China. Presently, Natalia is a senior consultant and open-source analyst at Guidehouse and has been a Chinese linguist for over four years, specializing in the analysis and translation of Chinese language sources including corporate records, Chinese military journals, manuals, and various open-source materials. Previously, Natalia worked at RAND Corporation, where she conducted Chinese language research and analysis on Asia-specific security topics for government sponsors. Beyond her official capacity, Natalia is on the board of Black China Caucus, a start-up initiative designed to advance and develop black professionals who focus on China.