Zhanna L. Shank

Senior Associate (Non-resident), Strategic Technologies Program
Zhanna Shank

Zhanna Lynne Shank, JD, is a senior associate (non-resident) with the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She is the founder and CEO of Systems Ethics Advisory LLC, a firm dedicated to the responsible governance of emerging and dual-use technologies. With over a decade of experience advising global institutions—including DARPA, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the United Nations—Zhanna bridges the gap between technical innovation and international policy. She currently serves as a professor at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and as an adjunct professor at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs. Her distinguished career in defense and academia includes serving as an assistant professor in the Systems Engineering Department at West Point and teaching cyber warfare at the U.S. Air War College. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, she served as a Captain and Judge Advocate General, having earned her commission through the MIT ROTC Program. Zhanna has held prestigious fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, Duke Law, the Madeleine K. Albright Institute for Global Affairs, Stanford’s U.S.–Russia Forum, the U.S. Army Cyber Institute, and the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. Her insights have been featured in global outlets such as CNN, NBC, BBC, Politico, and Nature. She holds a BA from Wellesley College, an MA and associateship from King’s College London, and a JD from the University of California, Davis, School of Law.

Programs & Projects

Areas of Expertise

In the News 8 of 35 results

Show More

All Zhanna L. Shank Content

Filter by

1 - 10 of 27 results

The Quantum Man and the Sea of Risks

This commentary discusses navigating the sea of risks in defending against the malicious use of quantum technologies.

Commentary by Zhanna L. Shank — February 20, 2024

The Political Reality inside Metaverse Cities

The United Arab Emirates and South Korean governments are among the first wave of national governments investing in state-sponsored metaverse platforms.

Critical Questions by Zhanna L. Shank — October 17, 2022

Russia Launches ‘Musical’ Space Salvo

Russia's space agency recently produced a satirical music video showing the Russian segment of the International Space Station decoupling itself from the station. So just how worried should NASA be?

Commentary by Zhanna L. Shank — March 16, 2022

Make Haste Slowly for Quantum

Quantum computers could enable to gain a technical edge in cybersecurity, intelligence operations, and economic industry.

Commentary by Zhanna L. Shank — February 11, 2022