Penelope Wessel is a researcher specialized in German foreign and security policy, particularly the relationship between society and the armed forces, as well as NATO's eastern flank. In her work, she focuses on integrating a gender perspective into various areas of security policy. Under this premise, her master's thesis examined Germany's feminist foreign policy amid Russia's war in Ukraine. She has experience working within operational NATO headquarters, academia, think tanks and the German Bundestag. She holds an MA in International War Studies and a BA in Politics and History.