Bethany Banks is a consultant and subject-matter expert in conventional weapons, trafficking and proliferation, and sanctions. She has over 10 years of experience working for the U.S. Department of State, where she advised on critical defense and political-military policy issues and led multilateral engagements on advanced conventional weapons threats. She also has a background in business development and international affairs. She holds a Master of Arts in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from George Washington University.