Maytal (Tally) Helfont - Defense Security Cooperation University

Faculty

Outreach

Ms. Tally Helfont joined the Institute for Security Governance (ISG) in February 2019 as a contractor, supporting the Institute’s innovation and learning activities and providing program analysis and Middle East regional expertise. In March 2021, Ms. Helfont transitioned to a government role at the Institute as a Faculty Associate focused on outreach, in which she leads a diverse team of subject matter experts comprised of developers, content, and graphic specialists. Ms. Helfont's work focuses on increasing external messaging opportunities and venues to reach the Security Cooperation community; shaping complex and sensitive information related to partner-facing engagements within established OPSEC and INFOSEC parameters for external audiences; and developing repeatable, efficient processes to facilitate knowledge management, data management, and internal communications.

Prior to joining ISG, Ms. Helfont was the Founding Director of the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s (FPRI) Program on the Middle East, as well as the Project Lead for its “After the Caliphate” Project. Her research focused on the regional balance of power, Jordan, the Gulf States, and US policy therein. She was a frequent commentator in the media, and her 30+ articles and chapters have appeared in English, Hebrew, and Arabic in publications such as Orbis (US), The American Interest (US), INSS Insight (IL), Raisina Files (IN), al-Mesbar (UAE), and al Majalla (UK/KSA).

In her training role for K3 Enterprises, she provided instruction for Civil Information Management Training Courses using a range of asymmetric software packages for operational and tactical Civil Affairs Forces, Human Terrain Teams, and US Special Operations Forces assigned to Iraq and Afghanistan. As a Terrorism Analyst for a D.C. Think Tank, she supported government agencies on high-profile terrorism-related cases and served as a consultative expert in the federal prosecutions of Palestinian Islamic Jihad members and their US affiliates. She also delivered training sessions on counter-terrorism research methodology to federal law enforcement agents on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security.

Ms. Helfont holds a Master of Arts in Middle East Studies from Tel Aviv University, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University. Ms. Helfont lives with her husband and two sons in Pacific Grove, California.