2026 Fellowship Class

Samuel Armes

West Palm Beach, FL

Samuel Armes is a pioneering force in the realm of digital currency legislation, having authored and successfully passed the first Anti-Central Bank Digital Currency bill in the United States. He is the founder of the Florida Blockchain Business Association, the premier state-focused Bitcoin and Web3 advocacy group, which has successfully championed six pieces of Bitcoin and Web3 legislation in Florida.

As the Founder and Lead Political & Media Strategist at Three Gates LLC, Samuel integrates politics, culture, and frontier technology to drive impactful change. He specializes in the strategic deployment of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence technologies, advising lawmakers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders on emerging regulatory frameworks and innovation policy.

Samuel serves on the boards of the United States Blockchain Coalition, an organization dedicated to coordinating Bitcoin and Web3 policy, and NoCaseIsCold, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit leveraging AI and Web3 technology to locate missing children. His expertise in the Bitcoin and AI sectors began with research roles at the United States Special Operations Command and the United States Department of State, laying a strong foundation for his current roles.

Lee Barkley

Huntsville, AL

My callings lie at the intersection of faith, civics, and the marketplace. In my work at Sovereign’s Capital, I focus on faith-aligned private equity investing. Before this, I was a corporate attorney with Jones Day, and before that in corporate finance with Mercedes-Benz. I graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law, and I have undergraduate degrees in International Business and Spanish from Mississippi State University. Elsewhere professionally, I serve on a higher education advisory board, a local nonprofit board, and in various other civic efforts and ministries in Huntsville, AL, where I live happily with my wife and our two children.

John Bear

Gillette, WY

A former Naval Officer, John has worked in leadership roles his entire professional life.  He professes his faith in Christ above all else.

John was elected to the Wyoming legislature in 2020 and is the Chairman of the strategic House Appropriations Committee.

John was unanimously elected to be the chairman of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus in 2022 and led the organization through its growth and cooperative partnership with the State Freedom Caucus Network. In 2023 John was named Club for Growth’s highest scoring legislator in Wyoming for sustainable economic growth with a 100% score.  John was awarded the State Freedom Caucus Network’s coveted “Best State Lawmaker” award in 2024.

John leveraged the Caucus’ new found popularity to promote more conservatives into a majority in the Wyoming House.

Most recently John authored Wyoming’s version of the SAVE act ensuring that only citizens vote in our state.  Wyoming was the first state in the nation to pass this comprehensive election integrity bill into law.

John owns several small businesses in Gillette Wyoming.  He and his wife Sage are earnestly striving to keep their community conservative and flourishing.  They raised two children and have four grandchildren.

Ivan Bercovich

Santa Barbara, CA

Ivan is a technologist, investor, and entrepreneur, currently focused on understanding the progression and implications of artificial intelligence. He was a co-founder of ScOp Venture Capital, where he focuses on companies developing vertical applications of AI. Prior to his current role as a general partner at ScOp, Ivan spent ten years at Graphiq, where his team built one of the largest general knowledge graphs and developed natural language understanding and generation technology. Following Amazon’s acquisition of Graphiq in 2017, Ivan led a team of 150 engineers to develop technology powering Alexa’s question understanding and answering. Ivan holds Summa Cum Laude degrees in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

RJ Blake

Arlington, VA

RJ Blake is a dynamic leader and entrepreneur with over 20 years of combined experience from boots in combat to the boardroom.  He draws upon a range of experiences from high stakes combat situations to building teams that can effectively operate in a challenging/fast growth business environment. 

As a founder and CEO, he has guided Blake Willson Group (BWG) from a bootstrapped-startup to an award-winning fast-growth company. BWG largely supports the defense and national security sector by harnessing technology to improve financial stewardship for the welfare, defense, and security of the nation. 

Mr. Blake started his leadership endeavors as a Team Leader in the United States Army’s 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) where he led counter-insurgency efforts during deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (VI and VII). After nearly a decade in service, he was honorably discharged as service-disabled combat veteran. 

He is currently a Member of the Board of Trustees for Institute of World Politics, Regional President of Reuniting After War and Member of the Board for Veteran Institute of Procurement. 

Mr. Blake graduated at the top of his class from University of Maryland’s R.H. Smith School of Business and is a highly rated Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Maryland and Virginia. He also holds the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designations, with previous experience in two of the Big 4 accounting firm’s audit and advisory practices.

Spencer Bone

Kansas City, MO

Spencer Bone serves as the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Herzog Foundation. He also oversees the Herzog Foundation’s Ambassador program- a leadership program for young professionals. In prior roles, Bone has served as Executive Director for Liberty Alliance USA and Grassroots Director for the Missouri Republican Party. He currently Chairs the Kansas City Center-Right Coalition. Bone is from Jefferson City, Missouri and is a proud graduate of the University of Arkansas.

Julia Cartwright

Allen, TX

Julia R. Cartwright is an economist whose work specializes in law and economics, political economy, and economic development. Her research features topics like the governance structures of crypto markets, the economic consequences of judicial interventions in courts in East Africa, and the development impact of housing regulations.

Dr. Cartwright has a wide-ranging teaching background, having previously taught over fifteen different economics courses as a professor at Pepperdine University, Hope College, and Kalamazoo College. Her teaching repertoire covers core and specialized courses including Game Theory and Economic Development of Africa.

She contributes to public discourse through debates, media appearances, public lectures, book reviews, and a TEDx talk. Dr. Cartwright also serves as the lead economist for the Sudreau Global Justice Institute at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. She oversees monitoring and evaluation efforts, applying economic analysis to assess the effectiveness of judicial reforms, particularly around plea bargaining and court case backlog reduction in Rwanda and Uganda.

Maggie Cleary

Madison, VA

Maggie Cleary is a native Virginian and career prosecutor. Since 2025, she has served in the Trump Administration at the Department of Justice.

Cleary has served as both a state and federal prosecutor, appearing in dozens of courts throughout the Commonwealth. She was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Virginia and later the First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia  She has predominantly prosecuted cases in which children were victims, in addition to felony sexual assault cases and possession of child sexual abuse material.  Committed to teaching the next generation about our constitutional order, she assisted law enforcement and the Culpeper County Schools by serving as an adjunct for their criminal adjudication course and teaches Applied Trial Evidence at her alma mater, the University of Virginia School of Law.

Cleary previously served in Governor Youngkin’s administration as Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, overseeing thirteen state agencies, including the Virginia State Police and the Department of Corrections. She later worked as Senior Counsel to Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares.

She currently serves as the board chair of SAFE (Services for Abused Families), a Central Virginia nonprofit organization that provides shelter, support, and advocacy to victims of domestic assault.

Cleary, her husband, Klarke Kilgore, and their collection of rescued animals live in Madison, Virginia. They enjoy spending time in Shenandoah National Park and are active parishioners at Our Lady of the Blue Ridge Catholic Church.

Chad Cohen

Dallas, TX

Chad Cohen is the Founder and President of Lone Wolf Oil Co., LLC, an oil and gas company engaged in the acquisition of mineral and royalty interests in the Permian Basin. In addition to Lone Wolf, he is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Solar Income Partners, LLC, a solar-rights acquisition platform engaged in the acquisition of solar-rights in utility-scale solar projects across the country. Outside of business, Chad has served as President of Dallas County Young Republicans since 2019.  Dallas County Young Republicans has grown into the largest, most active Young Republicans chapter in the State of Texas, and one of the largest Young Republicans chapters in the entire country. Since August 2023, Chad has also served as Founding Chairman of Young Republicans of Texas, a statewide Young Republican organization that serves as the official youth auxiliary partner of the Republican Party of Texas. In recognition of his leadership in grassroots political organization, Chad received the Maverick PAC Future 40 Award in 2022. He received his BBA in Finance with a Specialization in Alternative Asset Management from the Cox School of Business at SMU, where he graduated magna cum laude and was a Hunt Scholar.

Christian Corrigan

Helena, MT

Christian Corrigan is currently the Solicitor General of Montana, where he serves as the chief litigator and principal legal advisor for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen. In that capacity, he manages litigation before the federal district courts, courts of appeal, and the United States Supreme Court, as well as the Montana Supreme Court. He previously served in the Trump Administration as Senior Counsel to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. Prior to government service, he was a public interest constitutional litigator at Mountain States Legal Foundation and a fellow at the Institute for Justice. He clerked for Justice Caleb Stegall on the Kansas Supreme Court. He also served as Director of Publications for the Federalist Society’s national headquarters.

Christian grew up in Wichita, Kansas, earning his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania before attending the University of Kansas School of Law.  As a Kansas native, he is a die-hard fan of the Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas City Chiefs, and Kansas City Royals.  

Christian and his wife reside in Helena, Montana with their son.

Jp Cortez

Charlotte, NC

Jp Cortez is the executive director of the Sound Money Defense League, a nationally renowned policy group known for its fervent commitment to advocating for a stable and constitutional monetary system since 2014.

With more than 30 successful state legislative campaigns in more than a dozen states over nearly a decade, Cortez has become a leading voice in the movement to restore sound money to its rightful place in society.

A graduate of Auburn University, Cortez’s journey into the world of monetary policy began with his recognition of the importance of sound money in preserving individual liberty and long-term economic prosperity. He has since channeled his knowledge and enthusiasm into promoting awareness about the inherent risks of fiat currency and the benefits of returning to a sound monetary system.

Under Jp’s leadership, the Sound Money Defense League has flourished, striving to engage the public, policymakers, and grassroots organizations in meaningful discussions about money, monetary policy, and the U.S. Constitution.

His articles and analysis have appeared in Reuters, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Newsweek, Washington Examiner, and more.

Clayton Cromer

Austin, TX

Clayton is a corporate attorney in Austin, Texas, representing emerging companies, venture capital firms, and private equity clients in complex transactional matters.

Most recently, he served as Executive Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia—the nation’s largest—where he oversaw operations, drove cross-agency innovation, coordinated inter-agency investigations into fraud, abuse, and corruption, and supported federal law enforcement initiatives.

Previously, as Deputy General Counsel at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Clayton developed legal frameworks to revitalize the federal workforce by streamlining incentive structures, removing unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles, and modernizing outdated systems.

Clayton holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Texas A&M University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. Following law school, he clerked for Justice Jeffrey V. Brown on the Supreme Court of Texas.

He resides in Austin with his wife and daughter.

Rachel del Guidice

Ashland, OH

​​Rachel del Guidice is a culture reporter for Fox News, where she covers issues at the intersection of politics, faith, and culture. She also served as the Communications Director for Ohio Right to Life, leading strategic messaging and media engagement.

A 2016 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Rachel earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts with a concentration in Journalism. During her time at Franciscan, she served in leadership roles with Students for Life and Young Americans for Freedom, and contributed as a reporter and columnist for The Troubadour, the university’s student newspaper.

Rachel’s professional background spans journalism, public policy, and strategic communications. She previously worked as a Capitol Hill reporter for The Daily Signal, co-hosted The Daily Signal Podcast, and later served as Communications Director for House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green and as Media Affairs Director for the House Homeland Security Committee. Her earlier experience includes internships with the Heritage Foundation, Family Research Council, National Center on Sexual Exploitation, and Judicial Watch.

Rachel is passionate about truth-driven storytelling, and fostering a culture that values human dignity and civic engagement.

Jake Fischer

Alexandria, VA

Jake Fischer joined the Department of the Army in 2025 as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, where he executes strategic initiatives to modernize the U.S. Army.

Previously, Jake worked as a management consultant, designing strategy and implementing transformation projects for clients across the public and private sector, including government, defense, and technology clients.

Jake is an Army veteran and a graduate of Ranger School. During his service as a combat medic, he deployed to Afghanistan. He earned his associate’s degree from Sierra College and his bachelor’s degree from Yale College.

He hails from Mokelumne Hill, California and currently lives in Virginia with his wife and daughter.

Edgar Gonzalez

Houston, TX

I serve as General Counsel on the executive leadership team of Empower Clinic Service., which operates the  nation’s largest compounding pharmacy and outsourcing facilities, based in Houston, TX and East Windsor, NJ. Prior to going in-house for Empower two years ago, I served for over four years as outside counsel at an intellectual property firm for Empower and variety of technology firms, where I litigated cases on the litigation team and advised on transactional and R&D matters, including on patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights. At Empower, I lead four departments: Legal, Government Affairs, Regulatory Affairs/Compliance, Government Affairs, and Enterprise Risk. As the head of Government Affairs, I work on federal issues as well as manage a 50-state portfolio; this involves leading internal government relations and public policy team members.

Prior to private practice, I served in the United States Coast Guard as a JAG for 10 years (5 years active duty and 5 years reserve duty), where I worked on national security, international law, and intelligence projects. I attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Before law and military service, I was a R&D organic chemist in the oil & gas industry and owned/operated a private tutoring company.

Tim Griffin

Forest, VA

Christian, Attorney, former prosecutor, father from Virginia, representing House District 53 in the Virginia House Of Delegates!

Alec Hanna

Parker, CO

I’m a politico with over a dozen years of high-stakes experience and a few wild stories along the way. I have been a director for three state governments (two governors and a legislative caucus), worked on three presidential campaigns while consulting on several more, managed a competitive congressional race, and worked on dozens of campaigns of all sizes across the country. Today, I serve as Executive Director of the Colorado Republican Party, running statewide operations, political strategy, and communications. From campaigns to government, my career blends hands-on execution with strategic leadership to get results in fast-moving, high-pressure political environments.

John Hart

Knoxville, MD

John Hart, CEO of Open the Books, is a veteran of Capitol Hill and the public policy world. He served as the late U.S. Representative and Senator Tom Coburn’s long time Communications Director and co-author.

As a leader in Coburn’s office, Hart worked with Coburn to help pass landmark transparency legislation that put all federal spending online. He made earmarks like the “Bridge to Nowhere” famous and helped secure an earmark moratorium that held for a decade. Hart also helped Coburn achieve the only true year-to-year federal spending reductions (2012-2013) since the end of the Korean War.

Hart was in the room when Open the Books was still a kernel of an idea – serving as an advisor at the genesis of Open the Books all the way through its fifteen years of growth. He fundamentally understands how transparency can transform the way we govern ourselves. His decades of experience behind the curtain gives us an incredible opportunity to advance the transparency revolution and get facts and figures into national conversations that matter most. 

Hart co-authored two books with Coburn: Breach of Trust (2003) and The Debt Bomb (2012). He also runs a 62-acre farm in MD with his wife, Kimberly, and four children.

Jon Hartley

Stanford, CA

Jonathan S. Hartley is a Hoover policy fellow at the Hoover Institution, a research fellow at the University of Texas at Austin Civitas Institute, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, and an affiliated scholar at the Mercatus Center. Hartley is also the host of the Hoover Institution podcast Capitalism and Freedom in the Twenty-First Century, a member of the Canadian Group of Economists, and the founding chair of the Economic Club of Miami. He is also an economics PhD candidate at Stanford University.

Rachel Hazelip

Nampa, ID

Rachel Hazelip joined the Idaho Freedom Foundation in January 2025 as a policy analyst and legislative liaison, and now serves as Policy Director. She brings with her several years of experience in policy analysis, research, and writing as well as expertise in Chinese foreign policy/grand strategy and Marxism.

She holds undergraduate degrees in criminal justice, political science, history, and international studies; a master’s degree in public policy: international affairs, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Liberty University. She served in the IDGOP as the Canyon County Republican Youth Committeewoman from 2022 to 2024 and as the Canyon County District 10 co-captain for the 2024 presidential caucus.

Rachel enjoys mountaineering, traveling, surfing, ballroom dancing, and reading. She was raised in Idaho and is a born-again Christian, researcher, former legislative candidate, proud American, and liberty-lover.

Ryan Helfenbein

Lynchburg, VA

Ryan Helfenbein is the Vice President of Communications & Public Engagement at Liberty University and the Founding Executive Director of the Standing for Freedom Center where he is the host of the Give Me Liberty podcast and a regular Christian cultural and political commentator with appearances on Fox News, Newsmax, Real America’s Voice News and Salem Media. Ryan served as an advisor and public information officer for the 62nd Governor of Kentucky, Matt Bevin. He earned his Master of Divinity at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. Ryan has been married to Lauren Helfenbein for over 18 years, and they have four children.

Martine Helou-Allen

Simpsonville, SC

Martine Helou-Allen is a dynamic public health leader, entrepreneur, and strategic relationship builder with a diverse history of turning community needs into self-sustaining initiatives and elevating regional businesses to the global marketplace. She is the Founder and Executive Director of RIZE Prevention Inc., a nonprofit she established in 2021 to effectively combat adolescent substance use and addiction. Through her visionary leadership, Martine’s nonprofit has garnered the recognition and endorsement of federal and state agencies focused on public health and education, as a pioneering, school-based program provider in the field of prevention science. Her diverse career includes serving as the Community Relations and Correspondence Director for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, where she launched five major community programs, and 10 years in international business development and PR, helping elevate a Lebanese fashion house to the esteemed Paris Syndicate of Haute Couture Designers. Martine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Furman University and is active in state policy through her service on the SC Opioid Recovery Fund Board. Martine lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband, Scott, and their two sons, Sami and Michael.

Amber Hulse

Hot Springs, SD

Amber Hulse is a rising Republican leader and lawyer, and one of the nation’s youngest legislators serving as a State Senator in South Dakota. Growing up on a hunting ranch in Hot Springs, South Dakota, her commitment to patriotism and service has been profoundly influenced by her father, a 100% disabled Vietnam veteran.

Amber graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of South Dakota and went on to Georgetown Law, where she served as President of the Federalist Society. Her political experience includes an internship at the White House during the Trump Administration and clerking for Senator Josh Hawley on the Senate Judiciary Committee. She has also served Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, South Dakota Secretary of State Shantel Krebs, U.S. Senators John Thune and Cynthia Lummis, and Governor Kristi Noem.

Amber’s dedication to public service extends beyond her legal career. As Miss South Dakota 2019 and Miss South Dakota USA 2023, she became one of only four women to earn both titles, showcasing her commitment to serving the Rushmore State.

Currently, Amber is an associate at Dhillon Law Group, the law firm of renowned conservative lawyer Harmeet Dhillon. She is the youngest Republican female State Senator in South Dakota’s history.

Keri Ingraham

Seattle, WA

Dr. Keri D. Ingraham is a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute and Director of the Institute’s American Center for Transforming Education. She is also a Senior Fellow at Independent Women’s Forum. 

Dr. Ingraham is a regularly requested guest for national television and podcast interviews, as well as for conference and event speaking engagements. Her articles have been published by The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, The Federalist, The Washington Times, The Epoch Times, Washington Examiner, The Daily Wire, Real Clear Education, The Daily Signal, National Review, The American Spectator, Daily Caller, and a host of other media outlets. Her work has been featured by Fox News, referenced in The Wall Street Journal, and cited in countless publications.

 Dr. Ingraham has received several invitations to the White House and is quoted on the White House website. Additionally, she has advised Cabinet Members, Governors, and Members of the U.S. Congress. 

Prior to joining Discovery Institute, Dr. Ingraham spent nearly two decades leading within the field of education as a national consultant, requested conference speaker, head of school, virtual and hybrid academy director, administrator, classroom teacher, and athletic coach.

She holds a Doctor of Education degree and a Master of Education degree from Regent University. Her Bachelor of Arts degree was awarded by George Fox University, where she was named an Academic All-American and was a four-year athletic team member. In addition, Dr. Ingraham earned an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Professional Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and the Stanford University School of Engineering.

Jared Josephsen

Austin, TX

Jared Josephsen is a legal and business executive whose career spans innovation, regulation, and national security. He has led legal and governance functions for public and venture-backed companies, serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and boards on matters involving strategy, risk, and institutional stewardship. His experience has been shaped by sustained work in public company boardrooms, responsibility for complex commercial and regulatory decisions, and operational leadership in environments where disciplined judgment, accountability, and execution under pressure are essential. This breadth of experience has given him a deep appreciation for leadership approaches that emphasize institutional integrity, individual responsibility, and the conditions that allow innovation and opportunity to scale across society.

His experience includes serving as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Outdoorsy, Inc., a Series D, billion-dollar, IPO-path company, and as Associate General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary of Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC), a global semiconductor company. Jared has also held senior in-house legal roles at the public technology companies Itron (NASDAQ: ITRI) and Rackspace (NASDAQ: RXT), advising on capital markets, strategic transactions, disclosure, and board-level matters. He began his legal career in corporate and securities law at Ropes & Gray in New York City and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Austin, representing public companies, investors, and high-growth firms.

Jared’s military service includes twenty-five years as an infantry officer in the United States Army National Guard, including three deployments.

Jared holds an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, a J.D. from the American University Washington College of Law, and a B.B.A. in Finance and Economics and a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Iowa. He lives in Austin with his two sons.

Nick Kupper

Surprise, AZ

Nick Kupper grew up in Oregon and joined the United States Air Force in 2003, one year before marrying his high school sweetheart, Crystal. After 20 years spent traveling the world as a military electrician, recruiter and manager, he retired in 2023 while stationed at Luke AFB in Maricopa County. Nick has degrees in human resource management and aviation maintenance technology and currently represents Arizona’s 25th district in the State House. He and Crystal have four children, including one daughter adopted from Armenia. His first year in office Nick was able to get his signature legislation, age verification for adult content websites, signed into law.

Crews LaGrand

Tallahassee, FL

Crews LaGrand is a Marine Corps combat veteran, an attorney, and currently serves as Counsel to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. In this role, Crews advises the Attorney General on a wide range of legal and policy matters, coordinates with state and federal agency leaders on statewide initiatives, oversees the first-in-the-nation Office of Parental Rights, drafts advisory legal opinions and letters, and manages clemency applications and provides recommendations to the Attorney General.

Prior to this role, Crews clerked for Judge Robert E. Long, Jr., on the Florida First District Court of Appeal. Crews earned his J.D. from Florida State University College of Law and his B.S. in Political Science from East Carolina University, graduating magna cum laude.

Crews enlisted in the United States Marine Corps out of high school as an infantryman. He deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he earned several awards, including the Combat Action Ribbon. He also deployed to several countries in Southeast Asia.

In his free time, Crews enjoys training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, powerlifting, and reading theology, philosophy, and history.

Tristan Leavitt

Charleston, WV

Tristan Leavitt is president of Empower Oversight, a nonprofit which has helped whistleblowers bring to light some of the biggest abuses of the Biden Administration, from the preferential treatment of Hunter Biden to the FBI’s targeting of conservatives in its ranks. He started his legal career working from 2011-2015 on Senator Chuck Grassley’s Judiciary Committee staff, where he helped investigate ATF’s Operation Fast and Furious. From 2015-2016 he worked on Chairman Jason Chaffetz’s Oversight and Government Reform Committee staff, where he led the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server. He led two agencies during the Trump Administration: the U.S. Office of Special Counsel from 2017-2018, where he served as Principal Deputy Special Counsel and for a time as acting Special Counsel; and the Merit Systems Protection Board, where he was acting agency head from 2018-2022 and a Board Member from 2022-2023. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Georgetown Law. He and his wife Brittany are raising their five children in Charleston, West Virginia, where he was also elected in 2024 to the West Virginia House of Delegates.

David Lu

Denver, CO

David is a budget analyst with the City and County of Denver’s Budget and Management Office. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University. Previously, David worked for the State of Washington and interned with the Port of Seattle’s Aviation Finance and Budget division.

During his spare time, David volunteers for causes advancing economic liberty. A devoted UW football fan, he previously served on the student executive board of the Dawg Pack, the student section of UW athletics. David continues to be passionate about preserving home field advantage at his alma mater, the “Greatest Setting in College Football.”

Andrew Martin

Pickerington, OH

Andrew Martin serves in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office as the Director of Special Counsel and Third-Party Vendors.

Immediately before joining the office, Andrew worked at Taft Law in Columbus, Ohio. His practice at Taft focused on advising private and public entities on matters of real estate, public finance, and economic development. Andrew previously served as a law clerk for a District Judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

He received his law degree, summa cum laude, from Capital University in 2021. While in law school, he worked as an Extern at the Ohio Supreme Court and the Ohio Solicitor General’s Office. He received his undergraduate degree from Ashland University in 2018, where he was an Ashbrook Scholar and student-athlete.

Alex Mayer

Hurricane, WV

Alex J. Mayer, PhD, is a public-sector executive with over 15 years of leadership experience in human services, social policy, and public administration. Known for transforming complex state systems into mission-driven, accountable, and high-performing organizations, he currently serves as Cabinet Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Human Services, leading 3,400 employees across 54 county offices and overseeing programs including Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, child welfare, and behavioral health. Previously, Dr. Mayer served as Chief of Children and Family Services for South Dakota under Governor Kristi Noem.

A U.S. Army Ranger and Special Operations veteran, he leads with discipline, compassion, and purpose—bridging government, community, and faith-based partnerships to solve complex human challenges.

Dr. Mayer earned his PhD in Public Administration from Liberty University, an MSA from the University of South Dakota, and a BS in Psychology and Political Science from Calvin University. He divides his time between South Dakota and West Virginia, enjoying the outdoors with his wife, Melissa, and their daughters: Maleah, Madison, and Makenzie.

Alexander McCobin

Lopez, PA

Alexander McCobin is the founder and CEO of Liberty Ventures, a network for investors, executives, and entrepreneurs who are committed to the principles of capitalism to create value, generate wealth, and advance liberty together. 

Liberty Ventures has several principal lines of activity to do this, including:

1. Communicating the positive impact of capitalists and capitalism
2. Investing in startups led by principled business leaders
3. Developing leadership skills for executives at established companies
4. Supporting entrepreneurs begin their startups
5. Organizing events to bring leaders together
6. Activating business leaders to promote capitalism through a nonprofit, Principled Business

Prior to starting Liberty Ventures, Alexander was the CEO of Conscious Capitalism, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of elevating humanity through business, started by John Mackey, the founder of Whole Foods Market. Alexander was also the founder and president of Students For Liberty, scaling the largest international movement of young people committed to the principles of a free society. Alexander has a Master’s degree in philosophy from Georgetown University, as well as both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.

Brit McKenzie

Rogers, AR

Brit McKenzie was first elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2022. A lifelong Arkansan, he was born and raised in Rogers, AR, graduated from Subiaco Academy, and earned his degree in Government from Hampden-Sydney College. He has built a legislative record focused on limited government, economic freedom, and individual liberty.

During the 95th General Assembly, McKenzie serves as Vice-Chair of the House Education Committee, Chair of the House Local Government Personnel Subcommittee, and was appointed to the House Rules Committee. In these roles, he has worked to curb bureaucratic overreach, promote transparency, and ensure state and local government remains accountable to taxpayers.

McKenzie has led and supported legislation to limit municipal franchise taxes, roll back outdated and regressive regulations, and defend Arkansas from foreign adversaries’ influence. He has been a strong advocate for pro-growth tax policy, criminal justice and sentencing reform, and is a staunch supporter of expanded school choice, educational freedom, and parental empowerment.

McKenzie’s political career began during college, where he worked for then-U.S. Representative John Boozman. He later worked with Citizens United following its landmark Supreme Court victory defending political speech. Building on this experience, he served on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Aide and speechwriter for Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler. He subsequently worked on federal and statewide campaigns across the country, including with the Republican National Committee, the Republican Party of Virginia, and several candidates for federal, state, and constitutional offices.

Outside the legislature, McKenzie works in the private sector as a Business Development Executive at Think Idea Studio, an Arkansas-based marketing and advertising agency. He lives with his wife, Sydney, and their five children on the shores of Beaver Lake. He is a lifelong Catholic and an avid waterfowler, hunter, and outdoorsman.

Martin “Marty” McLaughlin

Barrington, IL

Martin McLaughlin represents Illinois’ 52nd District, serving portions of Lake, McHenry, Kane, and Cook Counties. A Reagan conservative and strict constitutionalist, he is committed to protecting the foundational freedoms and liberties established by America’s Founding Fathers.

A successful businessman and pension expert, McLaughlin built a career promoting fiscal responsibility and transparency. As Mayor of Barrington Hills, he restored financial stability, cut property taxes, and proved that efficient, accountable local government can thrive without excessive spending.

In the General Assembly, he champions tax reform, pension accountability, local control, and the protection of individual rights. Known for his genuine, authentic, and direct approach, McLaughlin values honest communication and accessibility with his constituents.

Together with his wife, Kathleen, he has raised a family rooted in community service. Guided by faith, freedom, and free enterprise, McLaughlin continues to stand for integrity, limited government, and the enduring principles that keep Illinois and America strong.

Ben Merkle

Moscow, ID

Dr. Ben Merkle is the president of New Saint Andrews College, as well as a Senior Fellow of Theology. He holds a D.Phil. in Oriental Studies and an M.St. in Jewish Studies from Oxford University; an MBA from Washington State University; a Greyfriars Letter; an M.A. in English Literature and a B.S. in Education (Secondary Education-Chemistry, with a minor in History) both from the University of Idaho. He is a teaching elder Christ Church, Moscow, and regularly preaching at their downtown service. Dr. Merkle is the author of The White Horse King (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2009) and Defending the Trinity in the Reformed Palatinate (Oxford University Press 2015). He was a reservist in the Marine Corps where he drove tanks but did not get a tattoo. He is a frequent speaker and author advocating for the freedom of higher education from federal bureaucracy and woke ideology. He and wife Rebekah have five children and a burgeoning tribe of grandchildren.

Mary Millben

Gilbert, AZ

Award-winning International Singer/Actress Mary Millben is a story of the American dream, and a brand rooted in God, American patriotism, and love of country. A global symbol for faith, freedom and unity, Mary is uniquely gifted to stir spirits across the world in settings of patriotism, global causes, and gatherings of world leaders. 

A preacher’s daughter from Oklahoma, Mary is an American product that transcends cultural borders. Rising from humble Midwestern roots, to working for a U.S. President and The White House, now performed for five consecutive U.S. Presidents, world leaders, and foreign dignitaries, a respected cultural ambassador across the world – Mary is an inspiring symbol of youth, conservatism, patriotism, and diplomatic alliance through cultural diplomacy.

Jeremy Munson

Lake Crystal, MN

Jeremy Munson was raised in a liberal household but found liberty and limited government in college through starting several small businesses and entrepreneurial endeavors. He graduated with a business degree from the University of Minnesota and has built a career in the financial services industry, focusing on regulatory compliance projects in several highly regulated industries. He was elected to multiple party leadership roles and served in the Minnesota House of Representatives, where he represented the state for three terms, championing free markets in healthcare and advocating for limited government. He started a state version of the House Freedom Caucus, called the New House Republican Caucus, where he and three members managed their own staff and communications team to lead the charge on limited government and sued Governor Walz for shutting down the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. Munson was recruited to run for Congress after Congressman Hagedorn’s death, receiving the endorsement and support of the Club for Growth, the House Freedom Fund, Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, and Congressmen Thomas Massie, Scott Perry, and Jim Jordan. In November 2025, Munson will enter the race to serve in the Minnesota State Senate.

Jett Nye

Granville, OH

I was born and raised in a small town outside of Columbus, Ohio called Granville. From there I attended Granville High School where I eventually became All- Ohio in football. I continued my education at The United States Air Force Academy, receiving my appointment from the Honorable Pat Tiberi. I spent the next four years studying business while learning about leadership and the profession of arms. I graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant in May of 2019 and began my next journey as a student in Undergraduate Pilot Training. Two years later, after the rigorous pipeline was complete, I became a winged aviator. I moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, where I currently reside now, reaching the rank of Captain. I’m an aircraft commander in an operational and deployable squadron piloting the nuclear capable B-52 Stratofortress. I have been on multiple deployments and have flown all over the world.

In my private life I have a 5-year-old daughter named Rowan. She is my everything. Growing up from humble beginnings in Ohio has taught me the importance of being a good man, striving for excellence, and dreaming big. This country has already given me so much and I feel it is my duty to return the favor in service, as a military leader now and hopefully in public service down the road.

Kyle Pierce

Anderson, IN

Since his election in 2022, State Representative Kyle Pierce has built a record of legislative achievement focused on lowering taxes, improving healthcare transparency, and strengthening government accountability. He supported one of Indiana’s largest tax cut packages—saving Hoosiers an estimated $430 million—and backed $1.3 billion in property tax relief for homeowners. Pierce co-authored legislation creating the Health Care Cost Oversight Task Force to reduce hospital costs and has served for three years on the Government Reform Task Force. He also champions reforms to make government more transparent and efficient for taxpayers.

Pierce was named a 2024 Policy Champion by the American Legislative Exchange Council for protecting Hoosiers from the implementation of a Central Bank Digital Currency. The Madison County Chamber honored him as a “20 under 40” awardee, and the Indiana Parkinson’s community presented him with a 2025 STAR Award for his advocacy on behalf of those impacted by Parkinson’s Disease.

Ben Robbins

Sylacauga, AL

In 2021, I was elected to the Alabama State House. Not only do I serve in the State House, but I am an attorney and business owner. In that capacity, I know the responsibilities of running a small business and managing employees. Personally, my Christian faith is a motivating factor in all my decision making. My wife and I have one son in kindergarten. We are like most families, in that we have two working adults that have to manage childcare and job responsibilities. 

After learning more about the Club for Growth Fellowship, I became very interested in applying. The goals of Club for Growth, which are establishing sound tax policy, protecting individual freedoms, and fostering the development of commercial markets fits my political and world views. 

I believe I fit the model of a Club for Growth fellow, based on legislative scorecards. I am one of the most conservative members in the Alabama Legislature, indicated by the Club for Growth Foundation and CPAC’s Center for Legislative Activity. Not only am I a conservative, but I tackle real issues, such as protecting children online to developing a state of the art workforce development cent. If chosen as a fellow, I believe these experiences would enhance my ability to shape arguments and messaging around these critical issues.

TJ Roberts

Burlington, KY

TJ Roberts is a lifelong resident of Boone County, where his family has lived for generations, and Represent’s Kentucky House District 66. 

As a college student, he stood up to university administrators who suppressed conservative speech, sparking a passion for defending the Bill of Rights and the freedoms it guarantees.

In 2020, TJ filed suit against Governor Andy Beshear for his lockdown orders during COVID-19 that banned worship and protest. TJ’s case resulted in a victory that upheld the rights guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments and helped set a national precedent for the protection of religious liberty and free assembly during emergencies.  

Following this victory, TJ continued to advance the cause of liberty across Kentucky. He worked with the campaigns and teams of national liberty leaders. While in law school, he fought in Frankfort to expand personal and economic freedom by limiting government to the limits of the Constitution.

As an attorney, Rep. Roberts fights for liberty in federal court and specializes in Constitutional Litigation, and continues this fight as a legislator, representing KY’s House District 66. In the House, for limited government, lower taxes, secure elections, fiscal sanity, choice in currency, free enterprise, and liberty.

Steve Rowe

Arlington, TX

Steve Rowe is the Vice President of Development at Texas Public Policy Foundation.  Since joining TPPF in 2019, Steve has been dedicated to cultivating and developing long-term donor relationships throughout Texas to further the mission of promoting liberty, opportunity, and free enterprise in the Lone Star State.  As VP of Development, Steve works closely with senior leadership to create and execute fundraising plans and manages the team charged with raising over $30M each year.  

After high school, Steve attended Texas Tech University where he lettered all four years in baseball and earned his degree in Finance.  After his final season at Tech, Steve began his seven-year playing career with the Texas Rangers which took him to places all over the map including a short stint in Venezuela.

Steve and his wife Monica have four children and live in Arlington, TX.

Joseph Rubino

Cheyenne, WY

A fifth generation Wyomingite, Joe attended the University of Wyoming for both his undergraduate and law degree. He currently serves as the Chief Policy Officer and General Counsel to Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, regularly working in furtherance of common-sense, conservative legislation, administrative rules, and policies related to election integrity, securities enforcement, combatting business fraud, and promoting Wyoming’s core industries through pushing back against ESG investment strategies. Prior to his appointment to this role, Joe practiced law in Casper, Wyoming, representing clients in areas related to mineral interest and surface use rights, insurance defense, and civil litigation.

Kendal Sacchieri

Blanchard, OK

Kendal was raised on a family farm in the small town of Xenia, Illinois. Here Christian values were instilled daily and reruns of Andy Griffith were always on TV. Most days Kendal would be with her father in the combine or tractor listening to Rush Limbaugh on the radio. That’s where her passion for conservative governance began. For her first two years of college, Kendal attended Randall University in Moore, Oklahoma and won a national ACCA championship in volleyball. 

For her final two years she attended Southern Illinois University of Carbondale where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kendal moved back to Oklahoma to start her career as a Spanish teacher. But in 2018, she decided to take a different direction. Kendal ran for McClain County Assessor because of a lack of transparency in the office and a need for someone who would listen to their taxpayers’ concerns, big or small. She won her election against an incumbent and served for 6 years. 

In 2024, Kendal again felt called to challenge a Senate incumbent, to be the true conservative voice. She won that election and just wrapped up her freshman year as State Senator for District 43.

Kendal and her husband have been married for 9 years, have 3 little boys and call Blanchard, OK home.

Nick Schroer

Defiance, MO

I was born in Ferguson, MO in 1985. Most weekends and summers were spent either on my family farm in Fayette, MO or traveling the United States with my grandparents. After graduating Trinity Catholic High School in 2004, I became the first member of my family to attend college. Graduating with a bachelor’s in Criminology in 2008, I intended to start a career in law enforcement until I met my wife. She convinced me to take the LSAT and apply to law schools. 

While in law school, I courageously spoke up and debated progressive (or regressive) colleagues and was elected as president of the Law School Republicans and the Federalist Society. In 2013 I graduated from SIU School of Law and then became licensed in Missouri and Illinois.

In 2016, fed up with the status quo in both our federal and state government, I ran for state representative in St. Charles County, MO. After a grueling primary and general election, I was elected to office. In 2022, I decided to run for the Missouri Senate to replace my friend and mentor Dr. Bob Onder (now Congressman), and was successful in my efforts.

Presently, I have two daughters, a wife, and four rescue dogs (yes that’s like two too many). I am a practicing attorney and I love outlaw country music.

Chris Staffeldt

Scottsdale, AZ

I grew up in Gilbert, AZ in a middle-class Christian family, where I developed a passion for mission work early on. Starting in middle school, I joined trips to Mexico helping small churches build houses, feed locals, and share the gospel. That passion grew into larger mission in Ecuador and South Africa, paving the way for my siblings to serve globally as well.

After high school, I went to trade school and became a welder. No one in my family had gone to college, and I believed blue-colar work was my ceiling. But during ten years at BulletProof Diesel, I helped grow a small shop into a multimillion-dollar manufacturer and discovered I was capable of more. In 2018 I left my 9-5 to build businesses dedicated to helping people.

Seven years later, I run multiple growing companies that serve customers while creating jobs. My mission trips taught me that living in the U.S. is a blessing and that with hard work, creativity, and perseverance, I have a responsibility to make the most of my opportunities. I’d rather try and fail than waste the chance that so many others around the world will never have.

Jay Steagall

Yukon, OK

Representative Jay Steagall graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2002 with a degree in Agricultural Economics.  He served in the military from 1996-2019, retiring at the rank of Major and a Senior Pilot on the KC-135 Stratotanker.  He was first elected to office in 2018 and continues to serve in the Oklahoma House of Representatives as the Chairman of the State Powers Committee.

Scot Turner

Holly Springs, GA

Scot Turner is a conservative policy entrepreneur and former Georgia State Representative for District 21. He is the founder and executive director of Eternal Vigilance Action, a Georgia based multi-issue nonprofit focused on election policy, accountability, and practical reforms that strengthen public trust. Under his leadership, EVA helped expand risk limiting audits in Georgia, built cross partisan policy coalitions, and won a 2025 Georgia Supreme Court case that protected separation of powers in election administration, over turning Georgia version of Chevron Deference. Scot also launched the Eternal Vigilance Institute for nonpartisan civic education and publishes Peach Pundit, a leading outlet on Georgia politics and policy. 

Before public service he spent two decades as an operator and team leader in technology and compliance, including roles with Hewlett Packard and EMC Testing. His legislative work covered licensing reform, tax and transparency measures, and civil asset forfeiture. He is co author of a 2025 R Street paper on building trust in Georgia elections. Scot lives in Holly Springs with with Kelly, his wife of twenty-seven years, and their two children.

Drayton Wade

Mount Pleasant, SC

Drayton Wade is a multi-time entrepreneur both in the for and non-profit space, currently serving as Head of Operations in charge of all non-engineering teams for ReflectionAI, an $8B AI startup building open-weight, American made large language models. Since joining, Reflection has grown from a small research team, to a well established frontier lab and raised over $2B to further its mission of bringing top-performing open-weight models to the US and allied nations.

Drayton is actively involved with Clemson University (his undergraduate alma mater), serves on the Clemson Alumni Association Board of Directors and received the 2023 “Roaring 10 Award” given to top young alumni. Drayton is a frequent speaker on AI topics at universities including Clemson, Dartmouth, American University and the College of Charleston.

Drayton is active in the GOP, as a prior YR chair, member of the SC Policy Council 501c4 board, and frequent fundraiser host (Congressional, Senate and Presidential) including a fundraiser for US Senator Ted Budd (2022 primary). Senator Budd graciously is a mentor for Drayton.

Drayton earned his BA from Clemson, his MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and his MBA from Dartmouth. Drayton and his wife Jessica live in Charleston.

Jonathan Wilson

Parker, CO

Jonathan Wilson is the founder and CEO of INVI MindHealth, a mental health tech company whose mission is to save lives by making the invisible visible. Prior to launching INVI, Jonathan worked at Capital Group, and before that, he was an equity trader at Goldman Sachs in New York City.

Jonathan co-founded and led the SEAL Future Foundation (SFF), a 501(c)3, in 2012, which has helped thousands of Navy SEALs and given millions of dollars back. The SFF’s mission is to provide Navy SEALs with a foundation that supports their well-being, education, and career
to continue a life of service within their communities.

Jonathan started his professional career in the military, having served over a decade in the United States Navy SEALs, deploying to multiple combat theaters while serving on multiple SEAL Teams.

He holds an MBA from the University of Oxford and graduated from the Program for Leadership Development at Harvard Business School.

Jonathan is based in Parker, Colorado.

Whitley Yates

Indianapolis, IN

Whitley Yates is a political strategist, commentator, and public affairs leader with a decades of experience advancing conservative ideas through policy, strategy, and advocacy. As the former Director of Public Affairs & Engagement for the Indiana Republican Party, she built one of the most nationally recognized engagement programs in the GOP, training and equipping a new generation of Republican leaders. Her leadership and innovative approach earned her multiple national awards from the Republican National Committee for excellence in engagement strategy and party-building. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Leadership & Liberty Institute, a civic education initiative dedicated to equipping young Americans with the tools to defend free markets, individual liberty, and limited government. Whitley is also the CEO of The Niche Agency, a communications and public affairs firm that partners with law firms, technology companies, and energy stakeholders to shape narratives, manage crises, and influence policy outcomes. Her work spans electoral politics, strategic communications, and grassroots mobilization from national conventions & legislative initiatives to civic education. Whitley is a national media commentator, appearing on MSNBC, FOX, NewsNation, Newsmax, The Hill.