Protégés of LEAD Cohort 1

LT Bahadar is a native of California. As a child, he developed an aspiration for military service, where he desired to hone his leadership skills and inspire others. In 2015, he earned his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering (cum laude) from the California Maritime Academy and commissioned as an Ensign through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at UC Berkeley. LT Bahadar reported to Pensacola, FL in August 2015 for flight school and was selected to fly helicopters. He began his platform-specific training at the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) HSC-2 in Norfolk, VA. LT Bahadar then reported to the World Famous Nightdippers of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron FIVE in Norfolk, VA. Shortly after his arrival, he embarked on the USNS ARCTIC (T-AOE-8) and USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) for Carrier Strike Group TWELVE’s around the world deployment to the SECOND, SIXTH, FIFTH, and SEVENTH Fleet AORs in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and Inherent Resolve. During his time onboard USNS ARCTIC and USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN he served as the Detachment and Avionics Division Officer. He was then selected as a liaison officer to the Combined Air Operations Center in Qatar where he worked with joint and coalition forces to aid the transit of CARRIER STRIKE GROUP TWELVE through the Strait of Hormuz during heightened tensions with Iran. He ended his tour as Aviation Safety Officer and Quality Assurance Officer. Following his tour as a helicopter pilot, LT Bahadar was selected as a Department of Defense Congressional Fellow. He is assigned to the office of Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) where he is responsible for the defense, foreign policy, intelligence and veterans affairs portfolios.

A native of Southwest Missouri, Major Gavin Brawley earned his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He currently serves as a Legislative Liaison for the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, VA. Prior to his current assignment, he served as a Program Manager in the NRO’s Geospatial Intelligence Systems Acquisition Directorate. Beginning his career in 2010, he earned his Master of Science in Engineering and Technology Management from Oklahoma State University. Previous assignments include space launch at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and test in Las Vegas, Nevada. He recently transitioned into the Space Force in 2021. Major Brawley’s personal decorations include the Air and Space Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the NRO Director’s Circle Award, and various unit awards.

Shuan Butcher serves as Communications Manager for Move United, a national nonprofit organization that uses the power of sport to push what’s possible for people with physical disabilities, including wounded veterans. In this capacity, he also serves as editor of Move United magazine and hosts a weekly podcast, “Redefining Disability.” Shuan also serves on the board of contributors for the Frederick News-Post and writes for other publications. He is a member of the National Press Club and the American Society of Magazine Editors. Shuan served in the West Virginia Army National Guard with the 1092nd Engineer Battalion and was the Distinguished Honor Graduate of his Advanced Individual Training class. He would also earn the Army Achievement Medal. Shuan received his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership from Mountain State University. He lives in Frederick, Maryland, where he is active in a number of community organizations. He is a member of American Legion Post 20 and has coordinated the Brunswick Veterans Day Parade, one of the oldest Veterans Day celebrations in the country, for the past eight years.

A native of Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, LCDR Matt Capaldo earned his commission from Villanova University NROTC in 2008 with Bachelors of Arts in Economics and Political Science. He has served as the Defense Fellow for Senator Blumenthal of Connecticut since January 2022. Prior to his current assignment, he served as Operations Officer at HSC-28 and Officer in Charge of Detachment One in Naples, Italy and USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC-20). Beginning his flying career in 2008, he earned his wings of gold in June 2010. Previous operational assignments include HSC-26 and the USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN-77). He served as a Helicopter Advanced Flight Instructor at HT-28 in Milton, Florida. In 2015, he completed his MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kennan Flagler Business School. LCDR Capaldo’s personal decorations include the Navy Commendation, Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards. He has accumulated over 2,600 flight hours, primarily in the MH-60S helicopter.

CDR Andrea “Andie” Cassidy is the Deputy Director of the Chief of Naval Operations’ Strategic Actions Group. In this position, CDR Cassidy serves as a senior advisor to Admiral Mike Gilday on critical policy and strategic issues, Congressional interests, and Department of Defense priorities. Prior to her current assignment, CDR Cassidy served as Deputy Director of the U.S. Navy’s Senate Liaison Office on Capitol Hill. As a special assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s legislative affairs office, she guided Defense Department nominees through the Senate confirmation process. Additionally, CDR Cassidy was the Director of the Vice Chief of Naval Operations Commander’s Action Group, flag aide to the Chief of Naval Personnel, legislative liaison for Navy manpower, personnel, training and education, and protocol officer for the Secretary of the Navy, among other assignments. CDR Cassidy is a former enlisted Russian linguist and a graduate of the University of Colorado, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Russian and received her commission as a surface warfare officer. She deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom aboard USS Detroit (AOE 4) and NATO’s Baltic Operations Exercise aboard USS Vella Gulf (CG 72). CDR Cassidy has a Master of Science in Human Systems Integration from the Naval Postgraduate School and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR®).

A native of Killeen, Texas, CDR Leslie Cornwall was commissioned into the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer in 2004. He has served as the Defense Fellow for Senator Shaheen of New Hampshire since December 2021. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Appropriations Analyst for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management & Comptroller) at the Pentagon. His operational assignments include USS BATAAN (LHD-5), USS McCAMPBELL (DDG-85), USS PEARL HARBOR (LSD-52) and AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON ONE (COMPHIBRON ONE). In 2013, he was selected for re-designation to the Training & Administration of the Reserve (TAR) Human Resources Officer (HRO) community. His TAR HRO assignments include Flag Aide for the Commander of Navy Reserve Forces Command and the O&M Navy Reserve Appropriations Branch Head for the Office of the Chief of Navy Reserve. CDR Cornwall has a BS in Political Science from the U.S. Naval Academy, an MS in Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University, an MBA in Finance from the Naval Postgraduate School, and an MPA in Environmental Policy from Columbia University. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.

Native to Saint Joseph, Missouri, Technical Sergeant Jordan Decker enlisted in the Air Force in 2012. He has served in a broad range of assignments supporting multiple defense activities throughout his career, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), space operations, electronic warfare, cyberspace operations, and special operations. In 2017 he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL as an airborne Tactical Systems Operator, where he logged more than five hundred flight hours aboard special operations tactical aircraft. In 2021, he completed a second deployment to the Middle East. During this time, he served as the first electronic warfare plans lead for the Special Operations Command Central in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. At his current assignment, Sergeant Decker leads a highly-mobile ISR team responsible for meeting global intelligence requirements for the U.S. Space Force. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from Park University.

Lt Col Maureen “Marty” Fromuth has spent the last 15 years of her career finding ways to bridge the gap between the national security and technology communities. She is currently serving in a year-long Department of Defense program as the Defense Fellow for Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL) where she supports the Senator’s national security team. Prior to her time on the Hill, Lt Col Fromuth served as an Air Force Fellow at the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy. Marty started off her career in the Air Force as an intelligence officer. She commissioned into Active Duty via the Reserve Officer Training Corps program in May 2007 after completing bachelor’s degrees in Economics and International Relations at Boston University. During her time in Active Duty, Lt Col Fromuth supported and served in leadership positions across numerous national intelligence agencies and military operations. During this time, Lt Col Fromuth earned her Master’s in International Diplomacy from Norwich University. In 2015, Marty transferred to the District of Columbia Air National Guard, where she served as the Senior Intelligence Officer. From 2017-2018, she served as a Special Assistant to the Principal Deputy Director for Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense. During this time, Lt Col Fromuth supported a department-wide analysis of Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs, which provided key information for the stand-up of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. Following her time in the Pentagon, Marty transitioned to the Reserves and began a role as an Account Executive in Amazon Web Services. As Senior Account Executive, Marty supported the National Security customers working directly with government executives and program managers in cloud adoption. She specialized in Artificial Intelligence application and data science environment adoption.

Captain David A. Giralt was raised in Casper, Wyoming, the son of Joseph and Juana Giralt. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 2006 and earned a scholarship to attend Colorado Christian University where he played varsity soccer and participated in ROTC. He commissioned as an active-duty ordnance officer upon graduation and has served in a variety of leadership positions in the 75th Ranger Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, and 1st Special Forces Command. He currently serves as an Army Congressional Fellow. David has served two combat deployments in Afghanistan (2016-17 and 2019-20) and has completed training tours in South Korea, Germany, Estonia, and Latvia. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army’s Ranger School and Pathfinder School. He is a Senior Parachutist and recipient of the Expert Soldier Badge. He holds numerous military awards and recommendations, commensurate with his rank and time in service. David holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Colorado Christian University (2013) and a Master of Professional Studies in Legislative Affairs from The George Washington University (2022). During the fall 2021 semester David interned in the office of Senator John Barrasso (R-WY).

Jeenho Hahm is a former Air Force officer and the author of the first doctoral thesis on North Korea’s rise to a global cyber threat actor. Jeenho has diverse backgrounds in strategy, from government consulting to publications, and currently works at Deloitte as a cybersecurity analyst. Jeenho earned his commission through ROTC and initially trained as an Air Battle Manager on the E-3 AWACS before transitioning to Aircraft Maintenance Officer at Moody Air Force Base. Following his active-duty service, Jeenho was selected as one of the “world’s top experts” on the security of the Korean peninsula (by the National Interest), as well as on cyber conflict (by the Arms Control Association) during his graduate studies. Jeenho has a Doctor of International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Public Affairs from Columbia University, a Master of Arts from the University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California.

A native of Chicago’s South Side, SGT Jauwan Hall enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2005 and deployed with HMH-361 in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. During which he served as a detachment section NCOIC as part of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. He served as an enlisted Canvassing Recruiter and Officer Selection Assistant with the Chicago Recruiting Command from 2011-2013. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago and currently serves as a District Representative in the office of Congresswoman Robin Kelly and as a recruiting team cadre member with the Illinois Army National Guard. Prior to his current professional role, he served as a reading tutor with Chicago Public Schools and as a Legal Assistant with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Illinois.

Carlos A. Hernandez is a graduate from the University of Texas at El Paso. Previously, he was the Deputy Commandant, Inter-American Air Forces Academy, JBSA Lackland, Texas. As the Deputy, he was responsible for providing technical and military education training, primarily in Spanish, for more than 900 students annually to military forces and governmental agencies of 21 Latin American and Caribbean countries. Upon receiving his Criminal Justice degree, he commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force where he took his first assignment as a Security Forces Officer at Minot AFB, ND. Later in his career, he cross-trained and became a Latin American Foreign Area Officer where he served honorably for the Office of Security Cooperation at the US Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. He is a combat veteran with two tours in Afghanistan and one tour in Greece as a Squadron Commander supporting the no-fly zone in Libya. Carlos has a MS in Business Management from Troy University and a MA in National Security Studies (International Relations – Latin America) from the Naval Postgraduate School. After 21 year of military service, he is currently on terminal leave and slated to retire from active duty in June 2022.

CDR Fernando R. Reyes is an active duty Naval Aviator currently serving at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy as a policy analyst in the Office of International Relations and Supply Reduction. Born in Cuenca, Ecuador, Fernando immigrated to the United States in 1992. He lived in Astoria, New York and San Jose, California where he graduated from Gunderson High School in 1998. Fernando attended and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2003 with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and a Minor in Spanish. Additionally, he holds an M.B.A. from the University of Florida and an M.S. in Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Fernando’s previous tours include the Joint Staff J-32 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) where served as the lead ISR analyst on adversary reactions to US Sensitive Reconnaissance Operations, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron SEVEN EIGHT (HSM-78) “Blue Hawks” Safety and Operations Department Head, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron SEVEN THREE (HSM-73) “BattleCats” as Quality Assurance and Assistant Operations Officer and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron FOUR ZERO (HSM-40) “Airwolves” Instructor Pilot. His personal awards include two Instructor of the Year, two Officer of the Year, a peer-nominated Leadership Award and various other US Navy and joint command medals. He is married to CAPT Catherine Luna, USN, from Chicago, Illinois and they have a daughter.