Imane is an Accelerated Master of Public Policy student from Williamsburg, Virginia, majoring in Government with a concentration in American Politics. This summer, she is applying her research and writing skills in Washington, D.C. as an intern at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA). Following the completion of her M.P.P., Imane plans to pursue a career at a think tank, where she aims to contribute to research in the national security field.

Ryan is a summer intern and rising second-year Master of Public Policy student from Fairfax, Virginia. He holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia, where he focused on critical mineral mining and resource policy. His current interests include remote sensing and satellite intelligence, small modular reactors, and nuclear nonproliferation. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a career in the intelligence community.

Ali is a rising second year Accelerated M.P.P. student from Amman, Jordan, and McLean, VA. He received his undergraduate degree in Foreign Affairs from UVA in May. His areas of interest include national security and defense, Middle East policy, great power competition, and unconventional warfare. Upon graduation, he hopes to pursue a career in the national security field.

Santana F. King is a Master of Public Policy Candidate at the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Outside of the classroom, he is a Graduate Student Researcher at the National Security Data and Policy Institute and Founder and President of the Virginia Political Advisory Group (VPAG). Prior to Batten, he was an International Policy Analyst supporting the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, where he managed European defense portfolios. He previously worked as a management consultant at Guidehouse within the defense and security practice. Santana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Peter Sullivan is a 2026 summer intern from Stafford, Virginia. He will graduate in May of 2026 with a double major in Government and Economics and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy. Peter’s areas of interest include U.S. force posture, gray zone conflict, and economic statecraft. Upon graduation, he plans to pursue a career in the United States Foreign Service or the intelligence community.

Charles Burns is a NSPC 2026 summer intern and a graduate student at the University of Virginia, where he is pursuing his Master of Public Policy degree. He is currently serving as a spring intern for the Center for Effective Lawmaking.

Trevor is the NSPC’s 2026 summer intern advisor and a rising second-year MPP candidate at the Batten School. After graduating from Lebanon Valley College in 2023, he spent a year in Tetovo, North Macedonia teaching at South East European University. His policy interests include NATO-Russia relations, democratization, and information warfare. After Batten, Trevor hopes to continue researching with a think tank or enter the public sector as an advisor to U.S. foreign policy in Europe.

Brooke is a 2026 MPP Summer Intern and has previously worked with the NSPC on various projects. Her areas of interest include national security, emerging technologies, defense, and international relations. After graduating in May with a degree in Foreign Affairs and minor in data science, Brooke will continue her studies at UVA as an Accelerated Master of Public Policy student at the Batten School.

Claire Oto is PhD student in the department of Poltics. She also coordinates the Center’s internship program. Prior to her timea at UVA, she was a communications specialist at the U.S. Department of Energy.  Claire earned an M.P.P in Space and National Security from George Washington University and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California San Diego.