Happy Pride Month! In March, we wrote an article highlighting inspirational women and their impact in the intelligence community. As we enter Pride Month, we are excited to continue celebrating diverse voices within the defense and intelligence space. Below, read more about the impactful accomplishments of 4 LGBTQ+ trail blazers making waves in our community.
Eliane Fersan — CEO, Global Nexus Solutions, LLC
Taken by: Eliane Fersan
Eliane Fersan is a self-described “‘Organized Disrupter’ with a passion for social equity and social justice.” Fersan is the Founder and CEO of Global Nexus Solutions, a global public affairs and social impact consulting organization based in Los Angeles. Global Nexus Solutions partners with global experts to make a social impact. She has advised a variety of agencies and governments, and worked with clients on policy reform, policy affairs, public-private partnership building, and strategic planning. With a background in the US Department of State, Fersan has also investigated and exposed sex trafficking networks as well as created programs in Lebanon to increase political participation by women at every level. Fersan is a Truman National Security Project Fellow and joins a group of leaders who come together to change the world by rethinking national security. Fersan’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to human rights around the globe serve as an inspiration to all of us here at Praescient.
Bryan Norrington — Director of International Research Engagement and Cooperation
Taken by: National Endowment for Democracy
Bryan Norrington is the Director of International Research Engagement and Cooperation. According to New America, Norrington is responsible for Agricultural Research Services (ARS) worldwide connection and serves as the primary point of contact for global matters in this position. He works with international partners, business partners, and other federal agencies to promote global agriculture and achieve US food and national security goals. Norrington worked as a Senior Food Defense Analyst at the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service before joining ARS. In this capacity, he worked closely with law enforcement and the intelligence community to provide guidance on risks to the global food supply to government agencies and private businesses. He uses his platform as a way to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion to make the American foreign policy community more representative of American society as a whole.
Erik Lin-Greenberg — Assistant Professor 
Taken by: Erik Lin-Greenberg
Dr. Erik Lin-Greenberg is a Major in the Air force Reserve as well as an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). During his time as an Air Force officer, he served in squadrons, joint task forces, Headquarters Air Force, and the Joint Staff. Now at MIT, Professor Lin-Greenberg is doing extensive research on emerging military technologies. His focus is on technology that affects conflict dynamics and the regulation and use of force, such as drones, artificial intelligence, and cyber warfare. His writing has been published in multiple scholarly publications including The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, War on the Rocks, Security Studies, and the Journal of Peace Research.
Kaly Marie McKenna — Director of Operations, 432 Operations Support Squadron
Taken by: Kaly Marie McKenna
Lieutenant Colonel Kaly McKenna, US Air Force, is the 432d Operations Support Squadron’s Director of Operations and the 432d Wing’s Chief Innovation Officer at Creech AFB. According to New America, in her career, she has become a pilot and has gained over 2,000 flying hours in both the C-130 and MQ-9 aircraft. She has served multiple times in Iraq to support Iraqi freedom. For her bravery under fire, she received the Aviation Valor Award and the Combat Action Medal. In recent years, McKenna served as an adviser to the Secretary of Defense on the changes occurring in warfare. She was also a Creech AFB’s Diversity Council Senior Mentor where she has spoken at their first Pride event.
This Pride Month, we are looking forward to celebrating the accomplishments of these 4 individuals and the many other LGBTQ+ national security and foreign policy professionals driving innovation in the field. Here at Praescient, we stand with organizations such as the Diversity in National Security Network in emphasizing the importance of having diverse voices in the intelligence and national security space. Praescient celebrates these individuals, and the many unsung LGBTQ+ leaders, who have made and continue to make such a positive impact on the community around us as well as our nation. Having a diverse and open company culture is a top priority for Praescient and we believe that unique approaches and perspectives drive our ability to innovate. If our philosophy and mission is in line with what you look for in an employer, visit our career page for opportunities to join our team.