Global Strategist Lisa Bembenick Positions MITRE for Impact with International Partners

Many people chat with their neighbors about the weather or their favorite sports teams. MITRE’s Lisa Bembenick favors denser topics, like geopolitical strategy and global stability. For nearly a year, Bembenick and her neighbor, a partner from a leading global management consulting firm, shared “casual” conversation in the driveway about the state of the world. 

The neighbor explained his organization’s role as one of just 20 U.S. partners in the Munich Security Conference. Bembenick talked about our company’s experience as operator of federally funded R&D centers, or FFRDCs, and our data-driven, analytical approach to solving complex problems. Eventually, the neighbor suggested introducing her to Munich leadership—setting the stage for MITRE and Munich to connect.

From that introduction, the long-time global strategist leaned into her deep technical acumen and talent for connecting people and priorities to drive progress. Her vision and diligence helped MITRE land a first-ever seat at the Munich Security Conference last year, along with an invitation to the 2025 forum held February 14-16. 

“Lisa brings a unique skillset to our multidisciplinary team,” says Greg Crawford, deputy general manager for MITRE National Security Sector. “She’s able to articulate the unique role of FFRDCs to world leaders not familiar with our mission, build trust and credibility, find alignment with their priorities and ours, and develop impactful strategies with our team.”

Moving at the Speed of Trust

MITRE has been engaged internationally for the past decade, with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Australia, and others. With the growing ties between the Pacific and European theaters, and the opportunity to expand impact, company leadership gave Bembenick the green light to foster the Munich relationship.

She accompanied Crawford and MITRE National Security Sector General Manager Keoki Jackson to last year’s Munich conference. They joined the mere 500 invitees—heads of state, foreign ministers, and the U.S. Vice President. 

For Bembenick, who holds a master’s degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University, it was a high point in a long career in strategic advising and planning. That includes 15 years with MITRE and corporate international experience with a Fortune 20 tech firm the decade prior. 

“I’ve always been passionate about tackling challenging international problems and enabling people to come together for greater impact,” she says. 

Bembenick’s skillset complements her colleagues’ technical and mission engineering expertise, enabling MITRE to go farther faster. Her work in our national security division touches various domains, from AI to space resiliency and cybersecurity. To all these problems, she brings an unparalleled ability to rapidly grasp the challenges and envision collaborative solutions where science and technology, policy, and global strategy intersect. 

The journey to Munich unfolded over nine months and thousands of air miles, from Sweden and Lithuania to Finland, Poland, and Germany. Early on, Bembenick represented MITRE at Munich’s European Defense Roundtable—our first time in that room—engaging with senior world leaders.

At an evening reception held in an 11th century Swedish castle, one of the foreign flag officers approached her and said, “Lisa, I don't know if you realize it, but you’ve been invited into the club.

“Everybody here knows everybody, and we move at the speed of trust. Now that you’re in, what you choose to do with that is your opportunity.”

Pointing to the North Star

Bembenick took his words to heart, leveraging her strategic thinking and technical leadership to help MITRE move from a seat at the Munich table to partnering with them. 

She also led the development of our partnership with another global organization, the Atlantic Council, on NATO issues. Bembenick’s an integral part of the core team for the joint MITRE and Atlantic Council force mix analysis that will provide recommendations for shoring up European defense capabilities.

This month, she accompanied Jackson to Munich for the 2025 conference. While there, MITRE led the discussion with NATO leadership, European ministers of defense, and U.S. officials around those force mix recommendations.

With this initial effort a proof-of-concept for NATO’s broader defense planning, Bembenick is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

“I’m not a run-the-process or a specs person. I’m a ‘give me something new to figure out how to chart the course’ person—about finding that North Star,” she says. “It's the ability to see what's emerging and to adapt and pivot. I’m so fortunate I get to do all that and more, and work with awesome colleagues along the way.”