Eric Altamura and Carole House Join CNAS as Adjunct Research Assistants

Washington, February 5, 2019 -- The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is pleased to announce that Eric Altamura and Carole House have joined the Center as adjunct research assistants, in partnership with the Veterans in Global Leadership (VGL) program and Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). Altamura joins the Technology and National Security Program and House joins the Military, Veterans, and Society Program.

Altamura and House are the spring cohort of VGL fellows joining CNAS this year. Altamura is currently pursuing a master's degree in security studies at Georgetown University following four years of active duty service as an armor officer in the U.S. Army. House is a Cyber and Emerging Technology Policy Specialist at the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and a former U.S. Army officer.

Altamura's background includes leadership experience at multiple echelons within cavalry reconnaissance units. Since leaving the military, he has worked with both public and private-sector stakeholders to address national security challenges related to technological innovation and environmental trends. Dedicated to the veteran community, Altamura remains an active member in several veterans’ advocacy and education initiatives. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Johns Hopkins University.

During her time in the Army, House served in chemical defense and military intelligence until November 2014, including a deployment to Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, from 2012 to 2013 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She previously worked as a Presidential Management Fellow in the White House Office of Management and Budget's Cyber and National Security Unit. During her fellowship, she served on a detail supporting the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on cybersecurity, supply chain risk management, and critical infrastructure protection policy issues. House holds a BA in international affairs from the University of Georgia and an MA in security studies from Georgetown University.

VGL is a non-partisan social enterprise in the education space and a 12-month leadership development program for high-potential/high-impact student veterans who are interested in becoming future leaders in their fields. The VGL program provides student veterans with brand development, exclusive networking, leadership seminars, career guidance and one-on-one application counseling for prestigious scholarships and fellowships.

"This formal partnership between our organizations represents the growing collaboration and innovative strategies developing to support our nation's warriors," said Jayson Browder, Founder and Chairman of VGL. "VGL is honored to join this empowerment movement with highly respected enterprises such as CNAS and Wounded Warrior Project to develop America’s future veteran leaders."

This fellowship is made possible through the generous support of WWP, a nonprofit organization that has been transforming the way America’s injured veterans are empowered, employed, and engaged in our communities since 2003. WWP’s free programs and services empower warriors through mental health support and clinical treatment, physical health and wellness programs, job placement services, and benefits claims help.

“Employers that choose to hire veterans will add highly motivated, skilled, disciplined, and coachable leaders to their ranks,” said René Bardorf, WWP Vice President of Government and Community Relations. “We’re proud to support CNAS and VGL in their efforts to recruit and train the next generation [of] veteran leaders. Eric Altamura and Carole House demonstrate all the traits of great leaders, and I have no doubt that they will thrive as adjunct research assistants during this next year.”

To reach Altamura or House or for more information on CNAS, please contact Cole Stevens at cstevens@cnas.org or 202-695-8166.