CNAS Announces Next Generation National Security Leaders

The Obama administration inherited the most daunting national security challenges in generations - ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, violent extremism, the rise of regional powers in Asia, and the dangers of climate change are just a few.  Keeping these issues and CNAS' mission to prepare and foster the next generation of national security leaders in mind, CNAS launched the Next Generation National Security Leaders Program, inspired by The American Assembly's Next Generation Project.

Out of over 450 extremely accomplished applicants, CNAS has selected 24 of the best and brightest emerging national security leaders to participate in the program.  These 24 exceptional individuals have diverse backgrounds and are from various sectors within the national security community – Capitol Hill, U.S. government, U.S. military, media, academia, think tanks, and the private sector. 

The Next Generation National Security Leaders will participate in a series of discussions led by John Nagl, President of CNAS, and Steve Biegun, Vice President for International Governmental Affairs at Ford Motor Company and member of the CNAS Board of Advisors. Each discussion will focus on a specific topic in national security, including Afghanistan and Pakistan; the global economic crisis; national security consequences of the use of and dependence on natural resources or "Natural Security;" U.S. strategy toward the Asia Pacific region; and how to promote bipartisanship in foreign policy and defense.

CNAS CEO Nathaniel Fick said, “Fostering the next generation of national security leaders is one of the most important aspects of our mission at CNAS.”  Program co-lead and CNAS President John Nagl agreed, saying, “These are the individuals who will lead our country in the decades to come and are some of the best that this field has to offer. They are immensely talented, driven, and most importantly, dedicated to enhancing our national security. I couldn’t be more proud to welcome them into the program.”
The complete list of the 2009 Next Generation National Security Leaders is posted below.  You may also read their biographies on our website at www.cnas.org/nextgeneration/participants.

2009 Next Generation National Security Leaders:

Jasmeet Ahuja
Professional Staff Member, U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Anika Binnendijk
Special Assistant, International Security Affairs, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense

Barret Bradstreet
Doctoral Candidate, Princeton University

Samuel Charap
Associate Director for the Russia and Eurasia Program, Center for American Progress

Marissa Doran
Professional Staff Member, U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Guy Filippelli
CEO, Berico Technologies

Kelly Howard
Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army, U.S. Department of Defense

Church Hutton
Minority Professional Staff Member, U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee

Mara Karlin
Instructor and Doctoral Candidate, Johns Hopkins University

Peter Lohman
Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State

Jim Mitre
Foreign Affairs Specialist, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy

Marisa Paul
Senior Analyst, Northrop Grumman

Elizabeth Prescott
Professor, Georgetown University

Emelia Probasco
Special Assistant, U.S. Navy

Adi Raval
Senior White House Producer, BBC

Kaleb Redden
Director for Building Global Partnerships, Office of the Secretary of Defense

David Rittgers
Legal Policy Analyst, Cato Institute

Stephen Rubright
Military Legislative Assistant and Foreign Policy Advisor, Office of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

Abby Ruscetta
Congressional Appropriations Liason, Secretary of the Air Force Staff

Anthony Russell
Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Coast Guard

Timothy Strabbing
Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, U.S. Department of Defense

Tim Sullivan
Research Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Caitlin Talmadge
Doctoral Candidate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Visiting Fellow, Georgetown University

Eric Young
Manager of Strategic Development, Boeing Network and Space Systems

CNAS would like to thank Lockheed Martin for their generous support of this program to foster the next generation of national security leaders.