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.
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.
