Cynthia Loertscher is the author and lead researcher of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation's (JWFLF) review of U.S. Hostage Policy, Bringing Americans Home. Loertscher's research has focused on drawing hostages, their families, and the government closer to better support hostages and their families. Prior to working for JWFLF, Loertscher was a research fellow with First Division Consulting in support of the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at West Point. There she researched a variety of topics including counterterrorism sanctions, hostage-taking, irregular warfare, radicalization, and WMD terrorism.
Loertscher's background is in the hard sciences where she collaborates with Miami University of Ohio, working on defense-related technologies. Prior to working with JWFLF and the CTC, she was the co-founder and vice president of research at Mineral Sciences LLC where she contributed to developing technologies used to counter the effects of radiological warfare. Loertscher received her Masters of Science from Miami University of Ohio and her Bachelor of Science from George Mason University.