FDD Announces New Class for its 2019-2020 National Security Fellows Program

(Washington, D.C., June 11, 2019) — The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) announced its class of 2019-2020 National Security Fellows. The class is comprised of bipartisan emerging policy professionals with a wide range of experience in government, military, journalism and the private sector.

FDD’s National Security Fellows Program (NSFP) provides exclusive opportunities to mid-career national security professionals, combining mentorship by FDD experts with a year-long slate of programming that includes off-the-record conversations with high-level government officials, leadership development training workshops and networking opportunities. The Fellows discuss pressing national security issues such as global terrorist networks, cyber warfare, the role of the U.S. in the Middle East and they participate in practical skill-building workshops.

This year’s class includes congressional staffers, executive branch officials, members of the military and experts from think tanks. They join a distinct alumni network of over 400 mid-career national security practitioners.

“We are pleased to welcome this exceptionally talented group of bipartisan national security practitioners into our fellows program,” said FDD’s Founder and President Clifford D. May. “This year’s class come from diverse professional and political backgrounds and each fellow has a commitment to leadership and national security. They represent the next generation of U.S. national security leaders and we look forward to providing them with opportunities that will help them rise through the ranks in their careers.”

2019-2020 National Security Fellows

1. Mina Abdelmalak, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
2. Degi Altantuya, PricewaterhouseCoopers
3. Jamie Ash, U.S. Marine Corps
4. Daniel Bair, Department of State
5. Drew Cavanagh, U.S. Coast Guard
6. Chris Cook, Senate Appropriations Committee
7. Rok Dedic, U.S. Air Force
8. Matthew Driskill, U.S. Navy
9. Melissa English, U.S. Air Force
10. Angelo Garcia, U.S. Small Business Administration
11. Christopher Ibsen, U.S. Air Force
12. David Judson, U.S. Army
13. Emily Leviner, Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer
14. Aaron Malcom, U.S. Army
15. Jordan Mayo, U.S. Navy
16. Sean McClintock, U.S. Navy
17. Mark McKinnon, Department of Defense
18. Heather McMahon, Department of Defense
19. Harrison Menke, National Defense University
20. Justin Nadolny, U.S. Coast Guard
21. Ola Nayyef, Department of Defense
22. Jared Patterson, U.S. Air Force
23. August Pfluger, The Washington Institute
24. David Rader, Ernest & Young
25. Charles Sciarini, U.S. Air Force
26. Kathleen Shannon, Office of Senator Rob Portman
27. Sarah Sheafer, Valens Global
28. Michael Sobolik, Office of Senator Ted Cruz
29. John Trimble, U.S. Army
30. Leslie Weinstein, Department of Defense
31. Adam Yang, U.S. Marine Corps
32. Tyler Yingling, Department of Defense
33. Boris Zilberman, Christians United for Israel

About FDD
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is a Washington, DC-based nonpartisan policy institute focusing on national security and foreign policy. Connect with FDD on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.