Who We Are

Abigail Kukura is a Director for Future Technology Platforms at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, Abigail worked as a consultant on national security issues and she previously worked at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Abigail holds a B.A. in International Affairs from the George Washington University and an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Addis Goldman is an Associate Director for Economy at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, he worked as a Blavatnik Intern in the Studies Program at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. He holds an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in Political Science from Colorado College.

Ananmay Agarwal is the Associate Director of Research and Analysis at the Special Competitive Studies Project, supporting the Governance Panel. Prior to SCSP, Ananmay worked at The Roosevelt Group, a defense lobbying firm, where he specialized in the congressional authorization and appropriations process.  He holds a master’s degree from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and has a bachelor’s and law degree from OP Jindal Global University in India. 

Angela Arriola Ponmakha is the Vice President and Chief of Staff of the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to joining SCSP, Angela served as the Director of Operations and Designated Federal Officer for the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. During her role at NSCAI, she ensured the Commission was in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Prior to joining NSCAI as its third staff member, she served as the Chief of Staff for the Defense Innovation Unit. Over her 20+ career, Ms. Ponmakha has served in various government and private sector positions, leading organizational management and operations staff.

Brady Helwig is an Associate Director for Economy at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, he worked as a Research Associate at the Hudson Institute, supporting the work of the Hamilton Commission on Securing America’s National Security Innovation Base. Brady holds a B.A. from Hillsdale College.

Brandon Mckee serves as the Senior Director of Governmental Affairs for the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, he served as the Director for Legislative Affairs at the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. He has also served in the U.S. Department of Labor, on staff in the U.S. House of Representatives, and worked previously in the private sector.

Channing Lee is an Associate Director for Foreign Policy at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, she worked at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), where she researched and authored reports on the PRC’s science and technology ecosystem, Chinese tech giant activity in Southeast Asia, and U.S. outbound investment into PRC-based tech companies. She has also worked at the Department of State, the US-Asia Institute, and the House of Representatives. She holds a BSFS in International Politics and MA in security studies from Georgetown University.

Chelsea Holt is a Senior Director for Marketing and Innovation for the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, Chelsea served as the Special Assistant to the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. Before joining the NSCAI, she worked for the president of Texas A&M University, where she graduated in 2015. 

William “Chip” Usher is the Senior Director for Intelligence at the Special Competitiveness Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, Chip served 32 years in the Central Intelligence Agency where he held a variety of executive positions. Chip is a former member of the Senior Intelligence Service and has expertise on East Asia, the Near East, and Eurasia. He is passionate about enhancing the US Intelligence Community’s ability to deliver timely, relevant intelligence insights to US decisionmakers. A sought after expert on IC modernization and the Near East, he has been quoted in several leading publications, including the the New York Times, Bloomberg News, and The Hill. Prior to joining the federal government, Chip ran an import-export company based in Nagoya, Japan. He holds a BA in Political Science from Duke University and a MS in National Security Studies from the National War College.

David Goodstone is a Director for Foreign Policy at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Previously, he led executive communications and special projects at Schmidt Sciences and Schmidt Futures, and is part of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies National Security Network. Prior to joining Schmidt Futures, David was a senior advisor at Rotary International, a global service organization tackling issues ranging from disease eradication to peacebuilding. David worked for the Israeli Foreign Ministry from 2010-2015, in Jerusalem and San Francisco as Director of Public Affairs. He holds degrees from the University of Oxford and the University of London.

David is the Senior Director for Future Technology Platforms at the Special Competitive Studies Project. David joined SCSP after more than a decade serving in the U.S. Government, most recently as an economic-coned Foreign Service Officer at the Department of State where he focused on China and technology issues. David also previously worked at the Computer Sciences Corporation (now known as DXC Technology) helping launch technology modernization initiatives in support of government clients. David holds a MA in Security Policy Studies and a BA in International Affairs from the George Washington University. 

Dr. Diana Gehlhaus is a Director for Economy at the Special Competitive Studies Project. She is also an adjunct policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Diana was previously a senior advisor in the U.S. Department of Defense Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (DoD CDAO), where she stood up a division dedicated to identifying, cultivating, and growing the Department’s data, analytics, and AI workforce. Prior to the DoD, Diana was a research fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), where she designed and led CSET’s line of research on the AI workforce in the U.S. and China. Diana has also served as an economist at the Progressive Policy Institute, and in government at the Export-Import Bank and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Diana holds a PhD in policy analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School, a Master’s degree in applied economics from Johns Hopkins University, and studied mathematics and economics at Bucknell University.

Eli Sugarman is a Senior Fellow at the Special Competitive Studies Project focusing on online trust and safety, cyber policy, and AI. Previously, he was Vice President of Content (Moderation) and the Meta/Facebook Oversight Board. There, he led the trust and safety teams of an experimental online safety and speech regulator. Before that, he was Director of the Cyber Initiative at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation where he led a ten-year, $160 million grant-making effort to build a more robust and inclusive cyber policy field. Eli serves on the boards of the Institute for Security and Technology. Girl Security, and the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani; and on the Independent Advisory Committee of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism and Aspen’s Global Cybersecurity Group. A San Diego native and graduate of Middlebury College, he holds a J.D. from Stanford University Law School.

Hina is a Director for Foreign Policy at SCSP. Prior to joining SCSP, she was a Manager for Cyber and Strategic Risk at Deloitte, serving government clients. Before joining Deloitte, Hina held roles across the USG as a Presidential Management Fellow, including at FEMA, DHS HQ, and at the National Security Council at the White House. Through her education and various roles, she has focused on climate change, cybersecurity policy, national security, homeland security,and immigration issues. Hina earned her BA from American University in Justice, Law, and Society. She also holds an MA from American University, focusing on Terrorism and Security Policy.

Jafer Ahmad is a Director for Future Technology Platforms at the Special Competitive Studies Project. His experience includes leading policy and government programs at venture-backed startups focused on computer vision and geospatial intelligence capabilities; managing strategic engagement and communications at DoD’s Defense Innovation Unit; coordinating international technology and trade initiatives at the Pentagon; and research in Islamic law, philosophy, and scriptural exegesis as a Fulbright Fellow in Jordan. He earned a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Maryland, and an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University – SAIS. He is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Jamie Tomberlin is the Operations Director for the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to the SCSP, Jamie served the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence as an Operations Specialist. Over her 20+ year career, Ms. Tomberlin has served in various private sector positions, leading programs and supporting company-wide initiatives.

Jenilee is the Senior Director of Government Affairs for the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to joining SCSP, she held various roles within the U.S. Department of Commerce, including as Senior AI Policy Advisor for NIST, legislative attorney in the Office of the General Counsel, and Associate Director of Legislative Affairs in the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. With more than 16 years of federal service, Jenilee also was Director of Legislative Affairs for the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, and staff for the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Jennifer is the Senior Director of Operations with SCSP. Prior to joining SCSP, she was the Deputy Director of Protocol at Special Operations Command (SOCOM) in Tampa, FL. In addition to her Combatant Command experience, Jennifer has spent the last 30+ years of federal service supporting two National Security Advisors, three Secretaries of Defense, and three Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She is a U.S. Army Veteran.

Joe Wang serves the Special Competitive Studies Project as a Senior Advisor. Prior to SCSP, he was a Senior Advisor at the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) and had previously served on the National Security Council staff as Director for Russia and as Deputy Senior Director for Europe and Russia. At the U.S. Department of State, Joe has also served as Senior Advisor to the Coordinator for Sanctions Policy, Special Assistant to the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, and other positions in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kyrgyzstan and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BA in Economics and Psychology, and from Georgetown University with a Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS).

Joel Nelson serves as the Director of European Policy and Senior Editor at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Previously, he was Assistant Editor & David M. Rubenstein Editorial Fellow at Foreign Affairs, and worked as an advisor to the British Secretary of State for International Development. He holds a B.A. in History from the University of Oxford, an MPhil from the University of Cambridge, and he was a Kennedy Scholar at Harvard from 2021-2.

Karina Barao is an Associate Director for Governance at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Previously, she was a Research Assistant to the CEO. Prior to SCSP, she was the senior lead intern for the Ethics of Emerging Military Technology Graduate Certificate Program at the U.S. Naval War College. Karina holds a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from Roger Williams University, and an MPP from the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University.

Katherine Kurata serves the Special Competitive Studies Project as a Director for Intelligence. Prior to SCSP, Katherine was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Moldova and later worked as a research assistant at the Center for European Policy & Analysis, Center for Strategic & International Studies and the Global Taiwan Institute. Katherine holds a BA in Political Science and International Affairs from Gettysburg College in addition to a MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Katie Stolarczyk is a Project Coordinator at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Previously she was an Associate Director for Research and Analysis on the Economy Panel and before that, Special Assistant to the CEO. Prior to joining SCSP, she served as an Operations and Management Analyst at the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence as well as a research intern to the Workforce Development and Talent Management research team. Prior to NSCAI, she interned at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism on the Weapons and Tactics team. She received her B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland and has an A.A.S. in Intelligence Analytics from Anne Arundel Community College.

Lauren Naniche is an Associate Director for Foreign Policy for the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, Lauren was a research intern in National Security and Technology at Hudson Institute, and briefly in Transatlantic Defense and Security at the Center for European Policy Analysis. Lauren holds a B.A. in Political Science, Economics and Russian language from McGill University.

Libby Lange is a Director of Intelligence at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, Libby worked as an Intel Analyst at Graphika, where she focused on Chinese state-linked influence operations and public health misinformation. Prior to Graphika, she served as a speechwriter and communications manager for Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, accompanying the President on multiple state visits. Libby holds an M.A. in Global Affairs from Yale University and a B.A. in Political Science from National Taiwan University.

Liza Tobin is the Senior Director for Economy. Prior to joining SCSP, Liza served on the National Security Council staff as China Director, where she led the development of multiple US strategies and policies related to China, including on trade and economics, climate and the environment, military issues, and China’s influence beyond the Indo-Pacific. Prior to serving at the NSC, Liza worked for more than a decade in various capacities as a China specialist for the U.S. Government, including as a senior advisor at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and as an economic analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, as well as in various roles in the private sector and academia. She holds an M.A. in international relations with concentrations in China studies and international economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a graduate certificate at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, and a B.A. in China studies and biblical studies from Gordon College. 

Luke is a Director for Defense at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, Luke worked in the U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s state office and in policy for multiple nonprofits. Through his education and various roles, he has focused on agricultural safety and health, homeland security, and immigration issues. Luke holds a B.A. in Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Deviance from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Security Studies at Georgetown University.

Meaghan Waff serves the Special Competitive Studies Project as an Associate Director for Intelligence. Prior to SCSP, Meaghan was a Fulbright Grantee in Malaysia and previously worked under the Department of Commerce and U.S. Congress. She holds a BA in International Studies and Spanish Language and Literature from Rhodes College in addition to a M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Meaghan also completed the General Course program at the London School of Economics.

Michael Gable is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to joining SCSP, Michael was the Chief of Staff for the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. Prior to standing up and joining NSCAI, he served as the Director of Operations and Designated Federal Officer for the Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Board. In his 25+ year career in federal service, he has held leadership positions in all levels of the U.S. Government across multiple Departments and agencies, primarily as a civilian, but also as a former Air Force officer.

Michael Lueptow is the Legal Director for the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to joining SCSP, Michael served as the General Counsel for the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. He also previously served on staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs—including as Chief Counsel for Homeland Security—and the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Dr. Nandita Balakrishnan is a Director for Intelligence at SCSP. Prior to joining SCSP, her career spanned academia and the public and private sectors. She was a pre-doctoral fellow at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation. She was then a political analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, where she authored several intelligence products including the President’s Daily Brief on South Asian domestic politics. She has also worked at a strategic intelligence and advisory firm, focusing on Asia-Pacific and sensitive projects. Nandita holds bachelor’s degrees in international studies and economics from Emory University and a master’s degree and a PhD in political science from Stanford University, where she focused on civil-military relations, political instability, and autocratic politics. 

Nicholas Furst is an Associate Director for Fusion at the Special Competitive Studies Project. He was previously a research assistant on the Economy Panel. Prior to SCSP, Nicholas worked as an intern at an AI startup. He received his Honours B.A. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.

Nina Badger is an Associate Director for Fusion at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Before this, she was a research assistant on the Foreign Policy panel. Prior to SCSP, Nina worked as an intern in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Her previous experience also includes a role in the U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan’s state office and in policy for a legal aid nonprofit. Nina holds a B.A. in Government and Legal Affairs from Bowdoin College.

Nyah Stewart is an Associate Director for Future Technology Platforms at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, Nyah was a research assistant for the Congressional Research Service, where she focused on domestic, agricultural policy issues. She holds a B.A. in Government and Politics with a concentration in International Relations from the University of Maryland, College Park.  

Olivia Armstrong is an Associate Director for Future Technology Platforms at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to this position, she was a Research Assistant for the Future Technology Platforms panel. Olivia holds a B.A. in Cyber Leadership and Intelligence with a specialization in World Affairs and Human Behaviors from Dakota State University.

Paige Kelly is an Associate Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, she served as an Intern in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as held various communications positions throughout college. She holds a B.S. in Public Relations from St. John’s University.

Dr. Paul Lyons serves the Special Competitive Studies Project as a Senior Director for Defense. Paul has served in a number of strategy and policy positions within the Department of Defense with a principal focus on Asia, the Middle East, and Russia.  Other roles include service as a member of the 2018 National Defense Strategy Core Team and most recently as a Senior Advisor to the Global Investment and Economic Security Directorate in the Pentagon. His three decades of naval service include four command-at-sea assignments in the Indo-Pacific, working alongside America’s best at sea. Paul holds a Doctorate in China Studies with an emphasis in Political-Economy from Johns Hopkins University, a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard, and a Bachelor’s degree in Third World History from Boston University. 

Dr. PJ Maykish serves the Special Competitive Studies Project as a Senior Advisor. Prior to the SCSP, PJ was the Director for Technology Competition at the National Security Council. He directed classified research for the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence from 2019-2021. PJ developed “Third Offset” technology solutions for DoD deterrence credibility issues in the Strategy Office for the Secretary of Defense (OSD-P/SFD) from 2015-2017 and has 24 years of experience in military operations including Commander of U.S. Central Command’s Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) from 2017-2019.

Rama G. Elluru serves the Special Competitive Studies Project as Senior Director for Governance and Intellectual Property, focusing on emerging technology and AI governance. Prior to SCSP, Rama was a Director of Research and Analysis at the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) focused on Responsible AI and Intellectual Property. She was detailed to NSCAI from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, where she served as an Administrative Patent Judge. She has been practicing Intellectual Property law for more than 20 years. She holds a B.S. in Computer Science/Philosophy from Trinity University, J.D. from the Washington and Lee School of Law, and M.Sc. in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology from Georgetown University.

Robert Owens is an Associate Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to this role, he served as a Research Assistant on the Public Affairs team at SCSP. Robert also served as a Communications and Production Intern for Townsquare Media in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He holds a B.S. in Public Relations with a specialization in Digital Media from the University of Alabama.

Dr. Ryan Carpenter serves as a Special Advisor for the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, he served as a Program Analyst at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. He has also served at the National Security Council, the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, and the Department of Defense.

Sarah Johnson is the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to the SCSP, Sarah was an attorney for the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. She received her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School and has previously worked with multiple federal agencies including NASA and the Department of Justice.

Stephen Nordin is a Director for Foreign Policy at SCSP. Prior to joining SCSP, Stephen worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in a variety of roles supporting Agency leadership and crisis responses overseas, most recently as an advisor in the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia. Prior to this, he worked as an analyst at a UK-based political risk advisory firm. He holds a B.A. in Government and History from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and an MPhil in International Relations from the University of Oxford.

Sylvia Flute is the Director for Security at SCSP. Prior to joining SCSP, she worked at the Department of Defense Office (DoD) of Inspector General in the Office of Security in various Security Specialist roles supporting agency leadership and mission. Sylvia is an accomplished security professional with experience supporting the DoD, Intelligence Community, Department of Justice and Department of State. She obtained her Security Fundamentals Professional Certification and has worked in various private sector positions, supporting programs and company-wide strategies.

Tamara Hamdalla is an Associate Multimedia Producer for the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP she worked with the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange, creating videos to advocate for foster children, and she interned with Without Exception Films on a docuseries highlighting the struggles of women around the world. Tamara has also volunteered on social justice projects such as working with gun violence victims, and ex-encarcerated fathers, and their families to bridge healing through VR and AR projects. Tamara holds a B.A. in Visual Media Arts Production, with a concentration in Peace and Social Justice from Emerson College.

Tara McLaughlin is an Associate Director for Government Affairs at the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, she was a research assistant at the Global Research Institute, geoLab, and the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, as well as a War Studies Fellow at the Institute for the Study of War. She holds a B.A. from the College of William & Mary where she studied economics and mathematics.

Tara Rigler serves as the Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to SCSP, Tara served as the Director of Strategy, Communication and Engagement at the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI). Prior to joining NSCAI, Tara was appointed to the Senior Executive Service and served as the Assistant Director for Communications for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in addition to many other senior communications roles during her 22 years of federal service.

Venkat Somala serves as the Director of Goverance at SCSP. Prior to joining SCSP, he was at the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party primarily focusing on AI and emerging technologies. On the Committee, Venkat developed policy solutions aimed at safely deploying leading foundation models and pushed for cybersecurity standards to protect model IP. Prior to the Committee, Venkat worked in Product Development at Meta where he focused on improving the effectiveness and quality of Instagram’s content enforcement classifiers. He also worked at Optum where he contributed to UnitedHealth Group’s provider search and provider recommendation tools. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Ylber serves the Special Competitive Studies Project as a Senior Advisor, with focus on defense and intelligence matters, as well as special projects.  Previously, he served as a Geopolitical Strategist with the Investment Strategy Group at Goldman Sachs.  Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Ylber spent 13 years with the US Department of Defense and the White House. During that time, he served as a Senior Fellow in the Office of Net Assessment, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Defense Policy and Strategy, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy to the Secretary of Defense, and several different roles dealing with US policy towards the Middle East.  Ylber is the recipient of the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Medal – the highest award given to career DoD civilian employees.  He earned a BA in International Relations from American University, a Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton University, and an MS in National Security Strategy from the National War College.