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Alexis Bergeron
Sponsoring Organization
- Department of the Army, Army Budget Office
Education
- Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Master in Public Policy
- University of Nebraska at Omaha, Bachelor of Science, Political Science
Alexis has a passion for good, effective government and brings her experience with Congress to her role at the Department. She will be completing her McCain Fellowship in the Army Budget Office, rotating to three of the directorates with a goal of better understanding the PPBE process from top to bottom. Prior to joining the Department, she also worked on campaigns, for the governor of her home state of Kansas and helped start two nonprofits as the first employee. Alexis hopes to continue her career in public service following the McCain program, using budgets to put strategy into action.
Douglas Burt
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Policy
Education
- Yale University, Master of Arts, Global Affairs
- Tufts University, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations and History
Douglas Burt is serving as a Country Director for the Nordics in OSD Policy’s Europe and NATO Office. Doug previously worked on the hill for a member of the House Armed Services Committee as a Rosenthal Fellow. Doug received an MA in Global Affairs from Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, where he was selected as a Kerry Fellow. Prior to Yale, Doug worked at the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research on economic development, military affairs, and climate policy.
Christopher Colletta
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Intelligence & Security
Education
- Sciences Po – Paris School of International Affairs, Master of Arts in International Security
- Vanderbilt University, Bachelor of Arts, European History and Asian Studies
Christopher Colletta is a former Army officer who intends to apply his military, linguistic, academic, and international experience to further United States national security policy in the Indo-Pacific region. Prior to becoming a McCain Fellow, Christopher deployed twice to the Republic of Korea as an Armor officer in the United States Army’s 1st Cavalry Division. Following his active duty service, he earned his MA in Paris, France, where he was a State Department intern at the U.S. Embassy. Upon graduation, he served as a Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellow at the Nuclear Threat Initiative in Washington, DC. He hopes the McCain Fellowship will serve as a springboard into roles of increasing responsibility in the Department of Defense.
Anthony (AJ) Convertino
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Intelligence & Security
Education
- University of Michigan, Master of Public Policy, International Affairs, Science & Technology Policy
- Kalamazoo College, Bachelor of Arts, East Asian Studies and Political Science
AJ aims to become a senior DoD leader working at the intersection of space, climate, and defense. Throughout his time as a Boren Scholar (China) and Weiser Diplomacy Fellow, AJ focused his academic and professional experiences on deepening his understanding of US-China great power competition. Prior to the McCain Fellowship, AJ worked in international space policy/cooperation at NASA’s Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR), international climate policy at the World Wildlife Fund, and he served for two years as a high school Chinese teacher.
William Cullen
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Intelligence & Security
Education
- Tsinghua University, Schwarzman College, Master of Global Affairs
- Claremont McKenna College, Bachelor of Arts, Environment, Economics, & Politics
Will has extensive academic, professional, and linguistic experience relating to the intersection of U.S. foreign policy and climate security in India and China. He hopes the McCain Fellowship will be a first step towards a long career in national security concerning the Indo-Pacific region. Previously, he held fellowships at the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the World Resources Institute, as well as internships at the U.S. Embassy New Delhi, a geospatial data analytics firm, a solar energy micro-grid company, and the U.S. Senate. He studied Hindi through the U.S. State Department’s Critical Language Scholarship Program and Chinese through the Schwarzman Scholars Program. He aims to leverage his unique expertise to assist the U.S. government formulate foreign policy impacting the Indo-Pacific region.
Nicholas DiMichele
Sponsoring Organization
- Washington Headquarters Services, Executive Services Directorate
Education
- Georgetown University, Master of Policy Management
- George Washington University, Master of International Policy and Practice
- University of Maryland, Bachelor of Science, Political Science
Nick’s long-term goal is to be a senior leader in the national security apparatus, with a focus on Russian military operations, NATO relations, U.S. grand strategy, and/or information operations. Before becoming a McCain Fellow, Nick interned on Capitol Hill for both a member of Congress and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Nick also worked for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (WTO and Multilateral Affairs) and as an Action Officer in OSD Policy (Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs – HDI & DSCA). Nick’s military experience in the Army as an Infantryman includes nine years on active duty and two years in the National Guard, serving in both combat and operational environments overseas. Nick looks forward to leveraging his military and civilian experience to support the warfighter at the strategic level.
Luke Engstrand
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation
Education
- Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Master of Arts, Strategic Studies and International Economics
- Lewis and Clark College, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations
Luke Engstrand is driven by a desire to improve US national security, utilizing his experience in cross- cutting strategic issues to support his organization’s mission of providing independent, objective analysis. As a McCain Fellow for CAPE, he contributes to products that help the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense make informed decisions on some of the most difficult problems facing the Department. While studying at SAIS, Luke worked at Lockheed Martin on their Future Concepts team, helping drive innovative thinking and technologies to bridge the valley of death.
Elizabeth Evry
Sponsoring Organization
- Washington Headquarters Services, Executive Services Directorate
Education
- University of Maryland, Master of Intelligence Management
- Hood College, Bachelor of Arts, History, Arts, and Archaeology
Elizabeth “Eliza” Evry’s long term goal is to become a leader within the Department of Defense. Prior to becoming a Fellow, Eliza previously worked as contractor for the Department of Defense as a Correspondence Analyst for the Records and Logistics Branch of the Correspondence Management Division as well as a Directives Analyst for the Directive and Records Management Division of the Navy. The McCain Fellows Program enables her to demonstrate her drive and abilities to the offices within the Department of Defense while acquiring new skills that will better serve her in different positions in the future.
Andrew Gellerman
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Intelligence & Security
Education
- Tufts University, Master of Arts, Law and Diplomacy
- Boston University, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations
Andre Gellerman is a national security researcher who aims to help the Department of Defense understand enduring strategic challenges. Prior to becoming a McCain Fellow, he worked as a data science consultant to the DoD, focusing on identifying non-traditional threats. He earned his Master's degree from Tufts University, concentrating on foreign military studies. He is proficient in several foreign languages.
Michael Gradus
Sponsoring Organization
- Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
Education
- Tufts University, Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy, International Business
- St. Norbert College, Bachelor of Arts, International Studies: Middle East and Political Science
Henri-Nicolas Grossman
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Policy
Education
- George Washington University, Master of Arts, Security Policy Studies
- King’s College London, Bachelor of Arts, War Studies & History
Henri-Nicolas aspires to make a meaningful impact helping the United States navigate and overcome national security and foreign policy challenges. His long-term objective is to become a senior policymaker in the field of American national security. Previously, he worked at the Albright Stonebridge Group, the Brookings Institution, and in the U.S. Senate, gaining valuable experience in the research, advisory, and implementation stages of policymaking. The McCain Fellowship is the logical continuation of his longstanding ambition to make an impact on national security policymaking as he begins his career. His first assignment was to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy as the Jordan and Lebanon country director.
Matthew Halek
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs
Education
- University of Chicago, Master of Business Administration
- London School of Economics and Political Science, Master of Science, Political Theory
- DePaul University, Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy and International Politics
As an experienced public servant with a background in legislation, policy, and management, Matthew hopes to deepen his institutional knowledge of DoD and leverage his expertise toward a career in national security leadership. Prior to completing his MBA at the University of Chicago, Matthew began his career as a White House Intern and served for six years as an aide to the then-Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, covering a portfolio at the intersection of domestic policy and national security. Matthew has held fellowships with the Wilson Center, German Marshall Fund, and Truman National Security Project. As a McCain Fellow, Matthew looks forward to advancing DoD’s organizational effectiveness and fostering the strong working relationships between DoD and Congress that are needed to confront our nation’s largest geopolitical challenges.
Baher Iskander
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Intelligence & Security
Education
- Princeton University, Masters in Public Affairs, International Relations
- Yale University, Bachelor of Arts, Religious Studies
Baher is a foreign affairs analyst at the Department of Defense. He previously worked as a research assistant for the CEO of a geopolitical risk consulting firm, a Senate staffer on the Armed Services Committee, a China analyst for a senior senator, and a campus minister. A naturalized citizen, Baher is excited to serve and learn as much as he can during his Fellowship.
Saher Jadooa
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisition & Sustainment
Education
- George Washington University, Master of Arts, International Affairs, International Law, and Organization
- George Mason University, Bachelor of Science (Dual major), Information Systems Operations Management and Finance
Saher’s long term goal is to serve the country as a senior national security expert. Prior to joining Cohort 3 of the McCain Strategic Defense Fellowship Program, Saher supported various components as a Senior Systems Engineer where she specialized in space systems. After completing her Master’s degree at the Elliott School, she decided to embark on the journey of public service. She believes that the McCain Fellowship Program is significant to her career development. The program provides immense leadership development opportunities, which she believes are essential to instilling the right leadership skills. Saher is particularly grateful for the tremendous honor in carrying the name and legacy of the late Senator John McCain.
Cedric Kenney
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Policy
Education
- Georgetown University, Master of Arts, Security Studies
- University of Massachusetts Amherst, Bachelor of Arts, Economics and Political Science
Cedric Kenney is a McCain Fellow in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, where he serves as Country Director for Australia and Oceania. Prior to joining the Department of Defense, Cedric worked at Beacon Global Strategies, a national security consulting firm with a focus in emerging technologies. In this capacity, he briefed private sector leadership on national security issues impacting their business model and performed in-depth studies to inform client decisions. Prior to joining Beacon, Cedric served as a research assistant at the RAND Corporation, where he co-authored reports on the U.S. Department of Defense’s posture for artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, provided open-source intelligence services to federal agencies, and traveled to the Indo-Pacific region to support contingency planning efforts. As a McCain Fellow, Cedric hopes to learn from senior leaders and build the professional foundation for a long career within the Department.
Jacob Larsen
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Intelligence & Security
Education
- Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Master of Arts, International Economics and Asian Studies
- University of William and Mary, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations
Jacob applied to the McCain Fellowship as an exciting entry point into a career in public service and an opportunity to develop valuable skills and perspectives .His long-term goal is to inform nuanced U.S. national security strategy within the U.S. government foreign policy community. Jacob aims to use his time as a fellow to learn about DoD’s role within the foreign policy-making community and to augment his understanding of U.S. national security policy.
Meredith Leal
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Intelligence & Security, DCSA
Education
- Georgetown University, Master of Arts, Security Studies
- Ohio State University, Bachelor of Arts, Middle East Studies
Meredith aspires to be a senior national security decision maker with the Department of Defense. As a McCain Fellow, she hopes to deepen her leadership and management expertise and support teams across the defense intelligence community to advance national security policies at home and bolster U.S. partners. Before coming to the DOD, she worked as a contractor focusing on U.S. foreign policy and domestic national security issues, as well as serving senior leaders in various non- profits, including on the National Security and International Policy team at the Center for American Progress. Ms. Leal is thrilled to be a McCain Fellow and begin her career in public service.
Nathaniel Low
Sponsoring Organization
Education
- Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, Master of Public Administration
- Bowdoin College, Bachelor of Arts, History and Government & Legal Studies
Nate is serving as a Policy Advisor in the Office of the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of the Army. Prior to the McCain Fellowship, he received his M.P.A. from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) in New York, where he focused on international security policy and cybersecurity. Nate previously worked full-time for the U.S. Department of State through the Pathways Program and served as an intern in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering – OUSD(R&E). He also conducted research for the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Strategic Technologies Program. Nate is from West Palm Beach, Florida and graduated from Bowdoin College with a B.A. in History (cum laude) and Government & Legal Studies.
Megumi Murakami
Sponsoring Organization
Education
- The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Master of Arts, International Security
- Wellesley College, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
Megumi Murakami serves in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, contributing to military personnel policy on training, recruitment, and readiness. Megumi received an MA in International Security from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Her research centered on strategy, U.S. basing decisions, and alliance dynamics. During the fellowship, Megumi focuses on coordinating policy across the service in support of Army strategic priorities, which provides a foundation for career as a policy advisor. Her long-term aim is to develop global defense posture policy and strategy for the Department of Defense.
Molly Parrish
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Policy
Education
- The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), MA International Economics and Strategic Studies
- University of Iowa, BA Political Science, Minors International Relations and Global Health
Molly Parrish is honored to serve as McCain Fellow in the Office of The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (OUSD(P)). Her first rotation is in the Office of Strategy and Force Development (SFD). While studying at SAIS, she interned in OUSD Policy with SFD during the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS) review. Prior to SAIS, Molly worked full-time at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) as a research assistant with the Defense Program. Her research focused primarily on internal DoD processes, including acquisition reform and the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process. Molly is very excited to begin her government career in OUSD Policy and hopes her fellowship is the beginning of a long career in public service.
Micah Presley
Sponsoring Organization
- Department of the Army, Office of the General Counsel
Education
- University of Alabama, Master of Arts, Economics
- University of Alabama, Bachelor of Science, Economics and Political Science
Micah’s long-term goal is to one day be a well-rounded senior national security decision maker in the DoD. His experience includes working in private government contract acquisition and business development focusing on DoD Information Technology as well as interning within a federal judge’s chambers. After completing a broad education focused on government policy and national security, he chose to become a fellow so that he could use academic interests to bridge gaps in economic, security, and legal policy. Micah hopes to bring a novel perspective to defense issues so that he can make a positive impact on the U.S. Army during his time as a McCain Fellow.
Alyssa Pugliese
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Policy
Education
- Sciences Po – Paris School of International Affairs, Master’s in International Security
- New York University, Bachelor of Arts (Dual Major), Middle Eastern Studies and Politics
Alyssa is honored to have been chosen for the John S. McCain Strategic Defense Fellowship and hopes the program is the first step towards a long career in public service within the DoD. She previously worked and/or interned with CISA, National Defense University, the Space Generation Advisory Council, and a number of NGOs both domestically and abroad. Alyssa is passionate about understanding and finding solutions to new and evolving security challenges, such as emerging technologies and cyber threats. As a McCain Fellow, Alyssa is eager to learn from senior policymakers and to contribute to U.S. national security and defense policy.
Cody Retherford
Sponsoring Organization
- Department of the Air Force, Space Force
Education
- Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Masters of Art, International Relations and Strategic Studies
- University of North Georgia, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations and Middle East Studies
Cody has a background in national security and emerging technology research and analysis. He is an Army officer who spent five years on active duty in light infantry and special operations organizations. He is now a reservist serving on the Army Staff. He has previous think tank experience working as the managing editor of an international relations journal and working as a non-resident fellow on emerging technology and space security issues. Through the McCain Fellowship, he works for the Space Force’s Strategic Initiatives Group supporting the Chief of Space Operations.
Melissa Riordan
Sponsoring Organization
Education
- Georgetown University, Master of Arts, Security Studies
- University of Notre Dame, Bachelor of Business Administration, Information Technology Management
Melissa is an analyst/strategic planner with the Department of the Army. Prior to becoming a McCain Fellow, Melissa worked at Booz Allen Hamilton where she supported the Joint Staff, Directorate for Joint Force Development (J7) as a policy and exercise analyst. She is excited to be a part of this year’s John S. McCain Strategic Defense Fellowship cohort and hopes that this is the beginning of a lifelong career in public service focusing on foreign affairs and international security issues.
Grayson Rosenfeld
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Intelligence & Security
Education
- Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Master of Arts, Strategy, Cyber Security, and Intelligence (MASCI)
- Tulane University of Louisiana, Bachelor of Arts, History
Despite being a third-generation Washingtonian, Grayson Rosenfeld is proud to be the first in his family to pursue a career in public service. As a McCain Fellow, Grayson is eager to integrate with the Department of Defense so as to better understand and serve the US Government as it enters this new era of great power competition.
Dr. Rachel Bailey Scott
Sponsoring Organization
- Defense Intelligence Agency
Education
- Princeton University, Ph.D., Politics
- University of Cambridge, Master of Philosophy, Politics and International Studies
- University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations
Dr. Scott’s long-term goal is to become an analytical leader and decisionmaker in our nation’s national security apparatus. Prior to her fellowship, Dr. Scott worked as a postdoctoral associate at the Institute for Data, Democracy and Politics at George Washington University, where she contributed to academic research on the effects of misinformation and Russian state media, using a variety of methods, including survey experiments and NLP machine learning. During her PhD at Princeton, Dr. Scott’s dissertation and research agenda focused on the political evolution and strategies of Russian disinformation as well as broader questions related to international security and Russian politics. While at Princeton, Dr. Scott served as the Director for the Center for International Security Studies, the home of security studies on Princeton’s campus.
Elliot Seckler
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisition & Sustainment
Education
- John Hopkins University, Master of Arts, Strategic Studies and International Economics
- John Hopkins University, Bachelor of Arts, International Studies
Elliot is an international and national security analyst. He currently serves in the Cyber Warfare Directorate within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. His area of interest resides in how the Department of Defense will implement the 2022 National Defense Strategy, specifically in how the Department will acquire new defense capabilities, cooperate and formulate defense policy with allies and partners, as well as develop new warfighting concepts among the Services. While in graduate school, Elliot worked as a junior policy fellow at the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the Office of the Director of Administration and Management. He has also had other formative professional experiences working at Rebellion Defense, Textron Systems, the U.S. House of Representatives, Inter-American Foundation, and Kirkland and Ellis. His writings have been published in the National Defense Magazine and The Hamiltonian. Elliot hopes that the McCain Fellowship will be a stepping- stone to an active and successful career in synchronizing military policy with all other elements of U.S. foreign engagements.
Katherine Seevers
Sponsoring Organization
- Department of the Army, Office of the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of the Army
Education
- University of Maryland, Public Policy
- Georgetown University, Bachelor of Science, Foreign Service
Katherine is thrilled to launch her public service career as a McCain Fellow. She previously worked and/or interned at the Department of Energy, McLarty Associates, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the American Security Project, the National Democratic Institute, and the Department of State. Katherine is grateful for the opportunity to help advance US national security priorities, learn from her esteemed colleagues, and develop as a DoD leader.
Andrew Senesac
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Secretary of Defense, Office of the Director of Administration and Management
Education
- Johns Hopkins University, Master of Arts, Strategic Studies and International Economics
- Gettysburg College, Bachelor of Arts, History
Andrew hopes to have a long career in national security and foreign policy. As a McCain Fellow, Andrew is excited to positively contribute to national security and gain valuable experience as a public servant. Andrew has a background in research and defense strategy.
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Nicholas (Nick) Sung
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisition & Sustainment
Education
- Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Master in Public Policy
- Boston College, Bachelor of Arts, History
Nick serves in the Front Office of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Previously, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer, collaborating with local government officials to manage food security projects in Nepal and rural education programs in Rwanda. Nick is honored to serve as a McCain Fellow and excited to learn from national security policymakers as he continues his career in public service. He is particularly interested in how the DoD can improve the interoperability of U.S. forces with international allies and partners.
Amanda Tobey
Sponsoring Organization
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisitions & Sustainment
Education
- New York University, Master of Science in Global Security, Conflict, and Cyber (Strategic Policy & Planning)
- The George Washington University, Bachelor of Arts, International Affairs (Security Policy)
Amanda aspires to be a change maker in cyber defense by informing national security policy. Prior to becoming a Fellow, Amanda worked at NATO HQ, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Air Mobility Command HQ. Her work focuses on the intersection of cyber incident response, critical infrastructure, and military uses of cyberspace. In the Cyber Warfare Directorate, Amanda works on Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Policy and the Strategic Cybersecurity Program to create strategic incentives and cost-effective solutions to support the warfighter in a contested cyberspace. The McCain Fellowship offers her the opportunity to better understand the DoD cyber defense ecosystem and better position herself to succeed in future leadership roles.