CNAS Announces 2017 Next Generation National Security Fellows

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) announced today the selection of the 2017 Next Generation National Security Leaders. Now in its eighth year, the Next Generation National Security Leaders Fellowship is a fundamental component of the CNAS’ commitment to ensuring the United States has talented individuals dedicated to preserving and maintaining its national security. After a highly competitive process, CNAS selected a bipartisan group of 23 emerging leaders from a host of fields. This year’s fellows include members of the military; professionals with the Departments of Defense and State, USAID, NSC, and the White House; congressional staffers; industry practitioners; journalists; think tank experts; and specialists from the NGO community.

“CNAS has a strong history of selecting some of the most talented young leaders for its Next Generation National Security Leaders Fellowship, and 2017 is no exception,” said CNAS CEO Michèle Flournoy, who will co-chair the program along with Robert Rangel, Lockheed Martin’s Senior Vice President, Government Affairs. “This year’s fellows bring remarkable diversity and depth of experience, and have demonstrated a true commitment to public service. CNAS is proud of its record of preparing the next generation of national security leaders.”

Through this leadership development program and its monthly dinner series and small private discussions, CNAS Next Generation National Security Fellows will engage with those who have led before them, developing a deeper understanding of U.S. national security interests and policies, as well as leadership principles and best practices. Last year, the fellows met with Secretary Madeleine Albright, Admiral Mike Mullen, General Stanley McChrystal, Doug Beck of Apple, former CIA Director John Brennan, Scott Gould, Tom Schick, and Josh Bolten. Fellows will also collaborate with CNAS experts and their colleagues on a variety of projects and participate in CNAS events. The fellows will also take part in several training sessions to further develop their leadership and management skill, and will have the opportunity to go on a week-long international study tour. Upon completion of the fellowship, they will remain connected to the Center through the CNAS alumni program.

“I look forward to working with these accomplished young women and men over the next year,” said Rangel. “This class of Next Generation National Security Fellows have already excelled in their own fields. They have proven their talent and their leadership. Most importantly, they care deeply about the future of the United States and its security. I am proud to have the opportunity to engage with them through this program and make an investment in their development as national security leaders.”

The complete list of the 2017 Next Generation National Security Fellows is posted below. Their full biographies are also available here.

CNAS would like to thank its partners Lockheed Martin and the American Express Foundation for its generous support of the program.

CNAS 2017 Next Generation National Security Fellows

• Hera Abbasi, Congressional Advisor, Department of State
• Avery Alpha, Chief of Staff to the Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, National Security Council
• Christopher Bassler, Director, Naval Science and Technology Cooperation Program, Office of Naval Research
• Jayson Browder, Presidential Management Fellow, White House
• Nathan Fleischaker, Major, U.S. Marine Corps
• Gene Germanovich, Senior Defense Analyst, RAND
• Grant Gordon, Associate Director of Research and Development, The International Rescue Committee
• Cristina Hernandez, Senior Science and Technology Policy Advisor, Leidos
• Shannon Hiller, Burma Program Manager, Office of Transition Initiatives, USAID
• Jordan Hirsch, Special Advisor, Paul E. Singer Family Office
• Walter Haydock, Professional Staff Member, Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives
• Rose Jackson, Senior Policy Advisor, Open Society Foundations
• Brian Katz, Country Director for Syria, Department of Defense
• William Kelly, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy
• Andrew Kim, Senior Analyst, Public Policy and Government Relations, Google
• Annie Kleiman, Major, U.S. Air Force
• Christina Le, Foreign Service Officer, Department of State
• Aaron Mehta, Senior Pentagon Correspondent, Defense News
• Jim Perkins, Captain, U.S. Army
• Kedenard Raymond, Foreign Service Officer, Department of State
• Brenan Richards, Foreign Affairs Specialist, Department of Defense
• Peter Rough, Fellow, Hudson Institute
• Yeganeh Torbati, Correspondent, Thomson Reuters

For questions concerning the Fellowship, please contact nextgeneration@cnas.org.