Nathaniel Lauterbach is a fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). 

He is an active-duty United States Marine Corps officer currently serving as a squadron commander.  Previously, he served as an operational planner and strategist with the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, responsible for war plans and long-range planning for all combat marine aviation on the US East Coast.   

Colonel Lauterbach served in numerous command and staff positions during his over two decades of service.  Salient efforts include serving as a lead planner for the NATO Cold Response 2022 exercise, a lead planner for efforts to integrate military robotics and artificial intelligence into the Marine Corps, and a developer of the Marine Corps Distributed Aviation Operations concept.  Currently specializing in air command & control and air defense, he previously served as a Marine helicopter pilot and as a defense acquisition professional for air defense systems.  He has completed numerous operational deployments to Europe and the Middle East. 

His works have been featured in numerous military journals and podcasts. 

He holds several master’s degrees, including a degree in operational studies from the Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting, among other degrees and certificates.