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Adam Yezerski

Adam Yezerski is a Professional Staff Member for the Minority staff on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.  Adam is responsible for allocating foreign assistance resources to the Department of State and USAID, and conducting oversight of agency policies and budgets, including field oversight of ongoing programs and operations around the world.  He formerly served as Military Legislative Assistant for Senator Richard Shelby, managing a portfolio of issues that included national security, foreign policy, and veterans’ affairs, and began his career on Capitol Hill in the office of Senator Mitch McConnell. Adam holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Edinburgh, and a BA in political science from Samford University.  Adam is originally from Murray, KY.

 

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Ferrara

Anna Ferrara serves as a Professional Staff Member for the Majority staff on the Research and Technology Subcommittee on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.  Anna joined the Committee in 2018 and has served numerous roles for both the Full Committee and Subcommittee over the last 4.5 years. Originally from Wisconsin, Anna moved to Washington, D.C. to study at American University where she earned a B.A. in Political Science in May 2018. Anna is currently enrolled in the Fleet Seminar Program at the U.S. Naval War College.

 

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Benjamin Talus

Benjamin Talus serves as Foreign Policy Advisor for Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee. He previously served as Senior Policy Advisor for Congresswoman Donna Shalala, overseeing her foreign affairs legislative agenda, among other issues. Prior to working on Capitol Hill, Ben served in various roles at the Clinton Foundation in New York City, where he managed communications for its international programs and the Office of President Bill Clinton’s foundation-related efforts. Ben holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Master’s Degree in international economics and Latin American studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where he is currently pursuing doctoral studies.

 

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Brooke Stuedell

Brooke Stuedell serves as a Senior Policy Advisor for Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), where she oversees all policy related to foreign policy, homeland security, defense, veterans, and immigration issues. Prior to this position, Brooke served as the Legislative Director for Former Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM). In that role, Brooke oversaw all legislative policy for the office, and advised the Congresswoman in her capacity as a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Homeland Security Committee. Brooke began her career on Capitol Hill in 2014 for Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) rising from intern to Legislative Assistant over the course of her time in the office. Brooke graduated from the University of New Mexico. In college, she enlisted in the New Mexico National Guard and joined the University of New Mexico’s ROTC program. Upon completion of her degree, Brooke received her commission in the United States Army Reserve and currently serves as a Civil Affairs Officer. In her free time, Brooke is an avid baker and solver of Rubik’s Cubes.

 

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Dylan Frost

Dylan Frost is the Deputy Chief of Staff/Legislative Director for Rep. French Hill (R-AR). Dylan has worked on a variety of foreign policy and national security issues for Rep. Hill, including international religious freedom, Syria, Japan/East Asia, American hostages and wrongful detainees, and representing Little Rock Air Force Base. He is now managing Rep. Hill’s position on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Dylan has his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Middle East Studies from the University of Arkansas, and his Master’s Degree in Statecraft and National Security Affairs from the Institute of World Politics in Washington, DC. Dylan lives in Virginia with his wife, Katie, and son, Henry.

 

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Elya Taichman

Elya Taichman currently serves as Legislative Director for Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA). He advises the Congresswoman on foreign policy, defense/national security, appropriations, infrastructure (including her work on the Regional Leadership Council), energy (with an emphasis on fusion and the Congresswoman's work on the Energy & Commerce Committee), space, trade, labor, and financial services. Elya is currently completing his law degree from the Temple University Beasley School of Law where he is a Beasley Scholar and a Law and Public Policy Scholar. While in law school, he conducted extensive research on space law, cyberwar and international law, and China's legal ambitions in cyberspace. He published an op-ed in Politico on space diplomacy about which he was interviewed by BBC Newshour. He also published policy papers on space law and cyberlaw in two law review journals. Before law school, Elya served in the office of then-Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM). His chief policy interest has long been foreign affairs, and he previously completed the Wilson Center Foreign Policy Fellowship. Elya graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in diplomatic history.

 

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Jonathan Hefner

Jonathan Hefner is currently a Legislative Assistant for Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX). His portfolio includes energy, environment, and climate. Before working for Rep. Crenshaw, he interned with the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Rep. Mark Green (R-TN). Prior to his time in Washington, Jonathan began his career at Creative Artists Agency in Los Angeles, CA as an agent assistant in their Global Client Strategy group. Jonathan is from Macon, GA and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Finance at Auburn University. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in International Policy from the Bush School at Texas A&M at the D.C. campus. He enjoys skiing, diving, climbing, hunting, and all things Hitchens and Hemingway.

 

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Katie Morley

Katie Morley serves as the Senior Legislative Assistant and trade advisor for U.S. Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE), Chairman of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee. In her role she handles policy related to his committee work on trade, along with agriculture, energy, and environment. Prior to her current position, Katie worked for Congressman Steve Womack (R-AR), handling appropriations, trade, foreign affairs, and tax issues. Katie graduated from the University of Virginia in 2016 with a BA in economics and foreign affairs.

 

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Marcus Coleman

Marcus Coleman is a Professional Staffer with the Minortiy staff on the Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee (CHS). In 2004, Marcus graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a B.A. in Communication.  In 2007, he graduated from the University of Kentucky with a M.A. in Communication Studies. In 2013, he graduated from University of Georgia with a Ph.D. in Communication Studies. From 2014 until 2019, Marcus was a tenure-track Assistant Professor or Communication at the University of Southern Mississippi. On March 5, 2020, he commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Mississippi Army National Guard (MSARNG) through Officer Candidate School (OCS). Currently, Marcus works for the United States House Committee on Homeland Security as a Professional Staffer on the Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Subcommittee. Currently, he resides in Washington, D.C. along with my wife and my son. His priorities are his faith, his wife and his son, and his professional integrity.

 

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Miryam Lipper

Miryam Lipper currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff to United States Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) where she advises Senator Ossoff on strategic, long and short-term planning and decision making to set his office’s legislative and communications agendas. With a deep interest in national security and diplomacy, Miryam advises Senator Ossoff on this portfolio, recently accompanying the Senator to India and the Republic of Korea as he works to deepen ties with critical trade and security partners. Before joining Senator Ossoff's Senate office, Miryam held a series of senior communications positions. Miryam served as Communications Director for then Senate candidate Jon Ossoff in his high-stakes race for control of the United States Senate. Miryam served as spokesperson for Senator Tim Kaine and then presidential candidates Kamala Harris, Michael Bloomberg, and Hillary Clinton in each of their runs for the White House. Miryam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Political Science from Indiana University.

 

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Monika Konrad

Monika Konrad is a Legislative Assistant to Congressman Mark Amodei (R-NV) handling the issues of foreign affairs, defense, trade, transportation, judiciary, science and technology, telecommunications, veteran’s affairs, and financial services. Monika manages the Financial Services Subcommittee portfolio for the Congressman in his position on the Appropriations Committee. She also covers the Congressman’s work pertaining to the Italian American Congressional Caucus, where he serves as a Co-Chair. Prior to joining the office of Congressman Amodei, she worked for Congressman Fred Keller of Pennsylvania. Monika holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Studies with a minor in History of Law and Policy from the University of Michigan and is working to complete her Master’s in International Security from George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government with a concentration in transnational challenges. She has also previously completed the Wilson Center’s Foreign Policy Fellowship Program. Before she began working on the hill, she worked on multiple campaigns in her home state of Michigan, at a non-profit focused on mobilizing college students to become more active in the political process, and interned with Ambassador Nikki. R. Haley at the United States Mission to the United Nations.

 

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Taryn Woody

Taryn Woody is a Professional Staff Member (PSM) with the House Foreign Affairs Committee majority staff covering Central Asia and counterterrorism. Prior to her role as a PSM, Taryn served as Member Services Director, leading engagement with Committee Members and China Task Force Members, as a Policy Analyst, and as a Special Assistant for the Committee. Before coming to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Taryn worked as a Public Policy Associate at the Professional Services Council (PSC), a trade association representing the government services sector. Taryn graduated with her Master’s of Public Affairs in 2020 from the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Policy, where she worked as a Graduate Research Assistant for the Clements Center for National Security. In 2018, she graduated from Texas A&M University with her bachelor’s in political science.  

 

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Thomas Hanley

Thomas Hanley is a Legislative & Policy Analyst on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Majority Staff. He works on the Committee’s international security portfolio, covering defense issues, U.S. security assistance programs, arms sales, nonproliferation issues, arms control, and defense-related treaties. Prior to joining the Committee, Thomas completed a master’s degree at Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, where he was a teaching and research assistant to former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Thomas has previously worked on security policy as a Rosenthal Fellow at the Pentagon in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Before coming to Washington, Thomas worked as a Research Associate at the Berlin-based Global Public Policy Institute, where he worked on data and technology policy issues as well as with the German Foreign Office on building support for and bolstering the effectiveness of multilateral institutions. Thomas speaks German and in addition to his master’s degree from Georgetown, holds a BA from Boston College. 

 

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Zack Hosford

Zack Hosford is the national security advisor to Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI).  Previously, he was on Spirit of America’s executive team and was the acting director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund.  Earlier, he was Senator Ed Markey’s senior foreign policy advisor, where he led the minority’s work for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.  Prior to that, he was the senior advisor for Asia-Pacific strategy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian & Pacific Security Affairs at DoD.  In this role, Hosford advised the assistant secretary on U.S. Indo-Pacific defense policy, and served as the lead author of DoD’s first-ever Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy.  Before joining DoD, Hosford was a fellow at the Center for a New American Security, where he researched issues including China’s national security policies, North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, and U.S. Asian alliances.  Hosford earned his MA in Security Studies from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.  He received his BA from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he majored in Scientific and Philosophical Studies of the Mind and minored in Astronomy.