WASHINGTON D.C. (February 4, 2026) – The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) is proud to announce the 2026 class of its National Security & Counterterrorism Fellowship (NSCT), the sixth cohort since the program’s inception in 2019.
Designed by former Director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center Nicholas Rasmussen and executed in partnership with the National Security College of the Australian National University (ANU), the NSCT Fellowship brings together a group of the most promising rising leaders engaged in national security and counterterrorism work from the countries that comprise the Five Eyes (FVEY) intelligence alliance: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
“These 17 new fellows represent some of the brightest young minds working tirelessly behind-the-scenes to manage security priorities across the Five Eyes partner nations,” said McCain Institute Executive Director Dr. Evelyn Farkas. “The McCain Institute is proud to help equip this group of national security and counterterrorism professionals with a comprehensive network of peers committed to public service and national security, as well as the hands-on skills to combat future global security threats.”
The 2026 cohort of NSCT fellows includes 17 young leaders – eight women and eight men – who hail from a wide array of different agencies, departments, and organizations, including the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), the U.S. Army, the New York City Police Department, the U.K.’s Home Office, the Australian Government, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the New Zealand Police.
“The network of personal and professional relationships forged during this 2026 Cohort Year will endure long beyond the program’s three one-week modules,” said Nicholas Rasmussen, who serves as Senior Advisor for National Security and Leadership Programs at the Institute. “As the FVEY partner nations grapple with an increasingly complex security environment that includes threats from malign state actors, international terrorist groups and transnational criminal organizations, it is more important than ever that cooperation and coordination across the FVEY community be deepened.”
This program provides mentorship, networking, and professional development experiences for the fellows who have been chosen based on a track record of leadership, distinction, and achievement in national security and counterterrorism.
The 2026 NSCT Fellows include:
United States:
- Dilpreet Sidhu – City of Los Angeles
- LTC Justin Hegg – United States Army
- Jacob Ware – Georgetown University
- Madeleine Blackman – Vannevar
- John Tully Gordon – New York Police Department
Canada:
- Ashley Chen – Royal Canadian Mounted Police
United Kingdom:
- Adam Laidouci – UK Home Office
- Oscar R. – UK Government
- Annie G. – UK Government
- Gary O. – UK Government
- Matt P. – UK Government
- Emma W. – UK Government
Australia:
- Clara E. – Australian Government
- Cameron H. – Australian Government
- Lisa R. – Australian Government
New Zealand:
- Jostina Tillett – New Zealand Police
The 2026 cohort is the program’s sixth group of fellows, which now includes an enduring professional network of 89 individuals across the FVEYs.
“The NSCT Fellowship provided unparalleled access to learn from security leaders from across Five Eyes governments,” said a 2024 NSCT Fellow from Australia. “Each person’s generosity in sharing their knowledge, reflecting on lessons learned, and openly discussing challenges that helped them grow in their own career has not only stoked my own consideration of the leader I want to be but also given me the confidence to strive for positive change in the workplace.”
Throughout the 2026 calendar year, the cohort will convene for a full week of events and programming in Washington, D.C., March 8-13, in Canberra and Wellington in late summer, and in London in the early winter.
Learn more about the McCain Institute National Security & Counterterrorism Fellowship HERE.