Staff

Brendan is the CEO of The Alliance for Secure AI. He has more than two decades of experience as a thought leader, strategic communicator, and media commentator. Before joining the Alliance, Brendan co-founded and led a strategic communications firm with his wife Randan. He has run political campaigns, served as a national spokesperson for national nonprofit groups, and led advocacy campaigns on everything from education to criminal justice reform.

A native of Flatonia, Texas, Brendan earned his undergraduate degree in Government from the University of Texas, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Brendan received his M.A. in Statecraft and International Affairs from The Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C.

In 2012 Brendan and his wife Randan launched Steinhauser Strategies, a full service public relations, government affairs, and political consulting firm.

Brendan is a frequent media commentator and has appeared on Fox News, Comedy Central, MSNBC, CNN, the BBC, NewsNation, and Newsmax. He has also been quoted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and many more newspapers, magazines, books, and journals.

Brendan served as an Adjunct Professor of Political Science and Global Studies at St. Edward’s University in Austin, where he taught courses on Global Issues and State & Local Government.

He ran U.S. Senator John Cornyn’s re-election campaign in 2014, and has consulted for a number of Members of the House of Representatives.

He also serves on the board of the AI Policy Institute, where he helps guide research and policy discussions on the responsible development of artificial intelligence.

Brendan served as the national Director of Federal and State Campaigns for the grassroots organization FreedomWorks. In this role, he traveled to more than 40 states, advocating for limited government policies and organizing grassroots events that paved the way for the rise of the Tea Party movement.

Brendan was the lead organizer of the September 12, 2009 Taxpayer March on Washington, which was the largest protest by limited government activists in U.S. history.

Brendan served as a First Lieutenant and Company Commander in the Texas State Guard, which he joined in 2020. He earned his Military Emergency Management Specialist badge in 2021 and received the Commanding General’s Individual Award in 2023.

He has been awarded MSNBC’s “Inside the Beltway” award, Campaigns & Elections Magazine’s “Rising Stars” award, the Leadership Institute’s “Outstanding Alumni” award, and the District of Columbia Republican Committee’s 35 Under 35 Award.

Brendan was named one of TIME Magazine’s 40 under 40 Rising Political Stars in American politics.

Josiah Gaiter is the Operations Director at The Alliance for Secure AI, where he assists in strategic planning and leads internal operations to help shape responsible AI policy. He brings a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership and grassroots advocacy, having built national education initiatives, managed high-impact policy programs, and advised campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels. A Colorado native raised in a family of public servants, Josiah holds a B.A. from Colorado State University and an M.A. from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Cameron Glass is a multimedia storyteller at the Alliance for Secure AI, where he develops video, design, and digital content to elevate and increase throughput on the organization’s message regarding emerging technology and responsible innovation.

Before joining the Alliance, Cameron produced multimedia content for leading policy institutions including the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Middle East Institute. His work explored global affairs, AI governance, and institutions adapting to new global norms. He has also worked independently as a producer and content strategist, collaborating with advocacy organizations to translate complex issues into compelling narratives.

A native of Chicagoland and a graduate of the University of Southern California, Cameron now calls Washington, D.C. home, where he focuses on producing content that makes complex ideas more accessible and civic dialogue more informed.

An Illinois native, Peyton M. Hornberger serves as Communications Director at The Alliance for Secure AI. With strong relationships in politics and media, Peyton is in charge of developing the Alliance’s overarching communications strategy and raising brand awareness through earned media, paid media, and other tactics. Featured in the likes of USA Today, The Knoxville News Sentinel, and The College Fix, she is also an expert on AI policy and its cultural impact, educating various target audiences about AI risk.

Prior to The Alliance for Secure AI, Peyton was a leader in grassroots political advocacy for Young Americans for Liberty (YAL), where she drove growth,  oversaw strategic content creation, and led digital marketing efforts. Peyton held key roles at YAL, including Regional Director for Campus, Communications Director, and Marketing Director. She played a pivotal role in reaching millions of people through successful campaigns and initiatives, including The American Revolution magazine, annual events like YALCON, and social media engagement.

Peyton graduated from Truman State University in 2021 with a major in Political Science & International Relations and a minor in Philosophy. Outside of her professional work, she is an accomplished artist, having illustrated a children’s book and been featured in art galleries.

Stephanie Justice is a practiced media relations professional and Democratic campaign operative. After graduating from the University of South Carolina in 2021, she spent over two years in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she helped lead communications efforts for Congresswoman Susie Lee’s 2022 re-election campaign, the Nevada State AFL-CIO, and the Nevada State Democratic Party.

Before joining The Alliance for Secure AI, she moved to Washington, DC for the 2024 election cycle to steer Midwestern press strategy at the Democratic National Committee.

Caleb Knapp serves as Senior Policy Manager at The Alliance for Secure AI, where he works to advance commonsense, bipartisan solutions to AI safety, transparency, and educating the public around the risks and realities of advanced AI. He is a seasoned public policy, coalition-building, and communications strategist, most recently as a Communications Fellow in the Office of Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and Regional GOTV Director for the Harris for President Campaign.

Previously, Caleb was a Government Affairs Senior Associate at FGS Global — a multi-client government affairs and strategic communications firm — where he advised clients on legislative strategy and crisis communications at the intersection of foreign policy, agriculture, environment, and technology policy. He has also held roles at a number of other companies and organizations based in Washington, DC, including Mercury Public Affairs and the Jordanian Embassy to the United States.

Caleb earned a bachelor’s degree in history and politics from Oberlin College. Although a native of Connecticut, Caleb has called Washington, DC, home for the past four years.

Anang Mittal is a seasoned storyteller and creative strategist with a career spanning Capitol Hill, Silicon Valley, and public affairs. He has been at the center of defining moments in American politics, crafting narratives and leading creative efforts around some of the most high-profile events and figures in recent history.

Most recently, he served as Head of Digital for the Speaker of the House, leading rebranding efforts and content strategy. At Brunswick, he worked with major national brands to develop tailored digital strategies for launches and campaigns. Prior to that, he was Managing Director at Targeted Victory, where he led the creative department producing high-impact ads and digital content. As part of YouTube’s Civics team, he played a pivotal role in election integrity efforts during the 2020 cycle and helped coordinate COVID-19 response campaigns with health officials and content creators. Earlier, he was the Creative Director for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republican Conference, producing nationally recognized video content.

Anang is a frequent commentator on U.S. politics in Indian media and was named to the 40 Under 40 list by the National Association of Asian-Pacifics in Politics and Public Affairs. A first-generation immigrant from New Delhi, he now calls Washington, D.C. home.

Dylan is the digital voice behind the Alliance for Secure AI’s social media platforms, where he transforms complex issues and creates compelling content to surround them. 

With a background in social media strategy, digital and graphic design, Dylan is a seasoned social media marketer whose work has involved crafting and executing social media strategies for nationally recognized leaders, blending policy insights with compelling content to drive engagement.

He most recently served as the Marketing Operations Director at Young Americans for Liberty, a national youth political organization, and has a colorful career curating and managing social media accounts.

A native of Hodgdon, Maine, Dylan earned his Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Maine in 2022. Since then, Dylan has carved out a dynamic career in social media management, where his hard work ethic and refined visual eye have become signature strengths. His work has reached and been shared by influential figures such as Elon Musk, DNI Tulsi Gabbard, and U.S. Senator Rand Paul.

Riki Parikh serves as Policy Director at The Alliance for Secure AI, where he leads strategy to build bipartisan support for smart, enforceable safeguards that ensure artificial intelligence is developed and deployed responsibly, transparently, and in the public interest. He brings more than a decade of senior experience at the intersection of public policy, strategic communications, and law—including most recently as Senior Counselor to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he advised on national security and emerging technology issues. 

Previously, he held leadership roles in global public affairs and policy communications at Meta and LinkedIn, shaping corporate engagement with policymakers around the world. He spent six years on Capitol Hill, as counsel to U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and as press secretary to U.S. Senator Mark Warner. Riki earned his J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where he also worked with then-Governor John Hickenlooper and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, and his B.A. from the George Washington University.