MEET THE RISING LEADERS

Senior Fellow, McKinsey Global Institute, McKinsey & Company

Rebecca J. Anderson is a Senior Fellow at the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), McKinsey’s business and economics research arm. Rebecca leads research on global and U.S. economic growth and security, productivity, and financial stability. Her publications have been featured in leading global media and presented at top-level CEO and policymaker convenings. She regularly shares MGI insights with leaders across government, financial services, and industry. Prior to her current role, Rebecca was a consultant with McKinsey’s public sector practice, serving U.S. federal agencies and state governments on strategy and operations. She is a Term Member with the Council on Foreign Relations, an Associate Member of the Economic Club of New York, and a former Fulbright Scholar in Turkey. She holds an MA in Global Affairs from Yale’s Jackson School and an MBA from Yale School of Management.

Asylum Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Omar Araiza is an Asylum Officer with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he provides nationwide training on credible fear screening procedures and adjudication. Raised in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and shaped by life on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, he focuses on the intersection of migration and U.S. national security. He previously worked at a refugee resettlement agency supporting refugees, asylees, and human trafficking survivors. Omar earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in global policy studies from the University of Texas at Austin, as well as an associate’s degree in French from Austin Community College. He is a recipient of the Bill Archer Fellowship, Senator Gregory Luna Scholarship, Kathryn Davis Fellowship for Peace, Critical Language Scholarship, Boren Fellowship, and a Foreign Language and Area Studies award. He speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, and currently studies Haitian Creole.

Deployment Strategist, Palantir Technologies

Philip Balson is a Deployment Strategist at Palantir Technologies, where he works on developing tools to support economic statecraft across the interagency. He also helps lead strategic commercial partnerships and supports Head of Defense Mike Gallagher. Previously, Philip invested in data centers, software companies, and IT services providers as an Associate at Berkshire Partners, a leading Boston-based private equity firm. Philip holds an AB from Harvard College and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar. Originally from Boston, he lives in New York City.

Helicopter Pilot, U.S. Air Force

Captain Dontae Bell is a U.S. Air Force Instructor Pilot at F.E. Warren Air Force Base. He trains and leads UH-1N and MH-139A aircrew supporting nuclear security operations. He previously served with the 1st Helicopter Squadron in Washington, DC, flying contingency response and special air missions for senior civilian and military leaders. Dontae pioneered “We Fly, Too,” an initiative inspiring students from underrepresented communities to pursue aviation careers, and is active with the Legacy Flight Academy. Before active-duty, Dontae began in public service as a congressional aide at the age of 16 and later worked in the U.S. Department of Education and the White House. He is a proud Howard University alumnus where he earned a BA in Economics and commissioned as an Air Force ROTC Distinguished Graduate. A Truman Scholar, he also holds an MA in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and enjoys fitness and outdoor activities.

Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State

Samantha BonenClark is a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State. Sam currently serves in Washington, DC, with a focus on U.S. economic security, technology, and trade policy with the United Kingdom. Her previous tours include the State Department’s 24/7 Operations Center, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil. Sam earned a BA from the University of Florida and an MPA from Princeton University. She completed a Fulbright in Brazil and speaks Portuguese, Spanish, and Arabic. Sam is from Florida, enjoys staying active, and is a dedicated aunt to two nephews and a chocolate lab.

Director, Impact and Operations | Central America Lead, Atlantic Council

María Fernanda Bozmoski is Director for Impact and Operations and Lead for Central America at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, where she drives strategy, execution, and high-level policy engagement across the region. She has led multiple Central America task forces and spearheaded the Center’s revamped U.S.-Latin America strategy, shaping actionable policy outcomes with governments, the private sector, and civil society. Before joining the Atlantic Council, she worked at the Cato Institute and the Council of the Americas. A frequent media commentator, Bozmoski is fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Italian. Originally from Costa Rica, she holds a BA in European Studies from the Sorbonne, an MA in Latin American Studies and Political Economy from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and an MA in International Law and Human Rights from the United Nations University for Peace. She is a 2025 Atlantic Dialogue Emerging Leader.

Political Chief, U.S. Department of State

Nora S. Brito joined the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer in 2014. She is currently the Political Chief at U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Previously, she served as the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement’s (INL) Program Officer at U.S. Embassy Kyiv, Ukraine. Nora also completed the Council on Foreign Relations’ International Affairs Fellowship. Prior assignments include: INL’s Chief of Staff; Economic Officer at U.S. Embassy Mexico City; Advisor to the Special Envoy for Venezuela; Political Officer at U.S. Embassy Caracas; and Consular Officer at U.S. Embassy Port of Spain. Nora received the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) Mark Palmer Award for the Advancement of Democracy in 2025 and 2019. Nora holds an M.A. from the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from American University.

Senior Analyst, U.S. Federal Government

Brian Cag is a senior analyst with the federal government focused primarily on East Asia. He works on a variety of issues to include foreign leadership analysis, national security policy, and geopolitical developments. He leads a team of analysts tasked with providing timely information to policymakers to address the U.S. government’s gaps on critical threats and targets. Brian facilitates the dissemination of assessments and briefings to Executive Branch principals, Security Executive Service members, and interagency partners to enhance collaborative efforts on U.S. national security priorities. He also liaises with foreign partners on issues related to regional stability, foreign policy, and national security initiatives. Brian previously served as an analyst with various geographic responsibilities to include Latin America, Eurasia, the Middle East, and Africa. Prior to his service with the federal government, he was a cybersecurity analyst for a local government agency.

National Security Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Will Chandler is a national security lawyer based in Washington, DC. His work focuses on how U.S. economic and regulatory tools—sanctions, export controls, and trade measures—shape the country’s security posture and relationships abroad, with a particular emphasis on U.S. trade policy and technology. Will began his career in corporate law, advising on cross-border transactions and governance matters, before clerking for Judge Timothy Stanceu on the U.S. Court of International Trade. He then moved into international trade and customs practice, representing companies in disputes and regulatory matters before U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Commerce, and other agencies. Across these roles, he has been drawn to questions at the intersection of law, policy, and emerging technology. Through the Aspen Strategy Group Rising Leaders Program, he is most excited about comparing perspectives with peers from other institutions and building practical, long-term networks for tackling shared security challenges.

Cyber Advisor for Intelligence and Analysis, U.S. Air Force

Amori V. Colbert is an Air Force Warrant Officer specializing in cyber and serving as a cyber advisor focused on intelligence and analysis, supporting missions within the National Security Agency and United States Cyber Command. She specializes in translating complex cyber operations and digital network exploitation into actionable intelligence for senior leaders and joint partners. With experience operating at the national level, Amori bridges the gap between technical capability and strategic decision-making, strengthening mission outcomes through precise analysis and informed advisory.