FDD Announces New Class of Policy Professionals for National Security Fellows Program

WASHINGTON – The Foundation for Defense of Democracies today announced its class of 2015 National Security Fellows. This group of 30 men and women are all up-and-coming policy professionals with a wide range of experience in government, journalism and the public policy community. They will participate in a series of programs designed to explore prominent national security issues and help them expand their leadership skills

FDD’s National Security Fellows Program provides exclusive opportunities to rising national security professionals, combining mentorship by FDD senior fellows and other distinguished members of the policy community with a year-long slate of programming that includes intimate, off-the-record conversations with high-level government officials, roundtable discussions on critical security issues, and leadership training. The Fellows discuss such pressing issues as Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, homegrown terrorism, U.S. engagement in the Middle East and radical anti-American terrorist organizations. They will also participate in a trip to Israel in October.

This year’s class includes congressional staffers, members of the military, journalists, and experts from think tanks. They join a distinct alumni network of FDD National Security Fellows who participate in special briefings and events.

“We are pleased to welcome a talented group of bipartisan national security practitioners into our Fellows program,” said FDD’s President Cliff May, “These men and women represent the future of the national security community, and we look forward to providing them with opportunities that will help them advance their careers.”

About the Foundation for Defense of Democracies:

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)3 policy institute focusing on foreign policy and national security. Founded in 2001, FDD combines policy research, democracy and counterterrorism education, strategic communications and investigative journalism in support of its mission to promote pluralism, defend democratic values and fight the ideologies that drive terrorism. Visit our website at www.defenddemocracy.org and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Media Contact:
Matthew E. Berger, Senior Director of Communications
[email protected]

2014-2015 National Security Fellows
Ryan Arant, Department of State’s Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs
Anna Borshchevskaya, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Michael Brewer, U.S. Navy, U.S. Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization
Luke Burke, House Committee on Homeland Security
Colin Carroll, U.S. Marine Corps Information Operations Center
Eric Chase, Toffler Associates, U.S. Marine Corps
Tera E. Dahl, Council on Global Security
Christopher Grieco, Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
Gene Gurevich, Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE)
Daniel Halper, The Weekly Standard
Rachel Hoff, Foreign Policy Initiative
Blake Hollander, Office of Congressman Mike Pompeo
Brad Humphreys, Department of Justice
Siddharth Iyer, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy
Justin Johnson, Office of Congressman Doug Lamborn
Yola H. Johnston, Lockheed Martin Corporation
Sarmad Khojasteh, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP
Soo Kim, Linguist
Enia Krivine, Middle East Expert
Liel Leibovitz, Tablet Magazine
Brian M. Mazanec, U.S. Government
Paul Mandelson, Office of Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks
Fiona F. McFarland, Navy Office of Information in the Pentagon
Adam Munitz, Fluet Huber + Hoang, PLLC
Gabriel Scheinmann, Jewish Policy Center
Martha Simms, John Hay Initiative
Bryan Stevinson, former Central Intelligence Agency Case Officer
Ryan White, Office of Congressman David Schweikert