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.

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.

Peyton M. Hornberger is a dynamic marketing and communications professional from Illinois with a proven track record of creating impactful campaigns and building strong relationships across sectors. After graduating from Truman State University in 2021 with a major in Political Science & International Relations and a minor in Philosophy, she dove into the world of grassroots political advocacy with Young Americans for Liberty (YAL), where she spent four years driving growth, overseeing content creation, and leading digital marketing efforts.

Throughout her time at YAL, Peyton held key roles, including Regional Director for Campus, Communications Director, and Marketing Director. She played a pivotal role in building the marketing department from the ground up, leading efforts to raise brand awareness, and reaching millions through successful campaigns and initiatives, including The American Revolution magazine, large-scale events like YALCON, and robust social media strategies.

Peyton excels at relationship building, digital marketing, public relations, and policy messaging. With a keen ability to adapt and pivot, she approaches every project with zest, integrity, and a hands-on attitude.

Outside of her professional work, Peyton is an accomplished artist, having illustrated a children’s book and been featured in art galleries.

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.

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.

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.

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.