Mariza Smajlaj is the Director of Communications for NNSA, where she leads strategic communications and public engagement for one of the nation's most critical missions: safeguarding national security through the responsible stewardship of nuclear weapons technology. With a background in communications, policy, and advocacy, she translates complex initiatives into accessible information.
Before joining NNSA, Ms. Smajlaj was the Communications Director at a social impact public affairs firm, where she managed campaigns on pressing societal issues. She also served as Communications Director for a U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee member, shaping messaging on global security. Her media experience spans multiple perspectives, from working as an associate producer at Sinclair Broadcast Group to serving as the editor at theSkimm, where she distilled policy topics for broad audiences.
Ms. Smajlaj holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from The Catholic University of America and resides in Washington, D.C.