Courtney Otto
People and Culture Manager
Courtney Otto joined Issue One in April 2026 following 16 years at the Central Intelligence Agency, where she started her career as a political analyst before transitioning into management. Over the course of a decade leading teams, managers, and talent management programs that shaped the employee experience for hundreds of officers, she realized her passion for creating supportive, engaging, and inclusive environments where people can grow and do their best work, and is excited to leverage it to further Issue One’s mission of strengthening US democracy. While at CIA, Courtney also served as a Director at the White House National Security Council and an Editor for the President’s Daily Brief.
Courtney holds a BA in Government, with minors in French and Arabic, from Dartmouth College. She is an ICF-credentialed Associate Certified Coach who received her Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University, and she received an HR Management and Analytics certificate from Wharton. Outside of work, she loves traveling, reading, cooking, live music, and spending time with friends and family.
