Colleen Denny is an international development and national security professional, passionate about human security, human rights, and democracy. She currently serves as Senior Director of Development at Spirit of America, where she connects private sector philanthropic resources to support US values and global stability. For five years, Colleen led Spirit of America’s international operations in Europe, including critical efforts such as the evacuation of Afghan allies to Albania in 2021 and sustained work in Ukraine for over three years following Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Before joining Spirit of America, Colleen served eight years in the US Coast Guard, commanding a Fast Response Cutter and leading missions across Central America, the Caribbean, and the Florida Straits. Her operational experience included counter-narcotics, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance, notably responding to the 2010 Haiti earthquake by coordinating medical evacuations and delivering life-saving aid. In 2018, Colleen expanded her focus on human security as a Peace Fellow in Northern Kenya, where she worked with tribal leaders and communities to reduce conflict through economic interdependence and food security initiatives—efforts that sustained peace for more than 15,000 people.

Colleen holds a master’s degree in international public policy from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Science from the US Coast Guard Academy.