Jessica L. Walton
Bridging national security with the art of storytelling
I’m a communications strategist and executive writer working for one of the defense primes in Washington, D.C. By night, I write psychologically charged national-security fiction inspired by real events, with a touch of dark humor for good measure. I also host (In)Security, a blog and podcast exploring psychology and mental health in the security field, along with a random assortment of defense topics that tickle my fancy.
My background spans the defense industry, military service, high-tech security marketing, and multimedia storytelling. I’ve worked globally, including in Israel and Eastern Europe, developing a cultural fluency that informs both my strategic work and the perspective I bring to my writing.
Earlier in my career, I worked as a security analyst focused on asymmetric warfare and propaganda, experience that continues to shape my interest in influence campaigns and how modern public audiences perceive conflicts around the world.
Socially, I love hanging out with a bizarre assortment of expats and military veterans. I think they are the most admirable and humorous people on the planet.
My Workshop: In today’s fast-paced business environment, concise and compelling communication is a critical skill. I developed a full-day workshop on maximizing impact through strategic communications, story craft, and writing skills with a focus on professionals who work in government, security, high tech, and engineering.
My Blog: I manage the (In)Security Blog, where I explore mental health and psychology issues in the security field, as well as an array of defense and story craft topics. The platform also features a podcast where I interview military leaders, law enforcement, CIA officers, psychologists, filmmakers, and more on topics like PTSD, resilience, and the psychology of espionage.
