[Virtual] "Are You Actually Ready to Serve?"

Leadership Seminar Series presented by the BPIA U.S. Foreign Affairs Leadership Project

In collaboration with the Partnership for Public Service and the Leadership Council for Women in National Security (LCWINS)

Thursday, October 15, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 PM ET | Virtual

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9794618227

Details, session PPT, zoom background here: https://iabpia.org/Leadership-Project

Description

Interest in public service is not the same as readiness to serve. This opening session of the BPIA U.S. Foreign Affairs Leadership Project examines what it actually takes to be credible for political appointment and senior government service. Speakers will explore the experiences, relationships, management skills, political judgment, and institutional knowledge that distinguish someone who wants to serve from someone prepared to contribute on day one.

What We’ll Discuss

• What “ready to serve” actually means in practice
• How to assess your readiness for political appointment or senior public service
• The role of management, policy expertise, congressional fluency, and implementation experience
• How sponsorship, validators, and professional relationships shape public-service opportunities
• How to identify and close gaps in your own readiness

Speakers

Alexandria J. Maloney
Senior Director, BPIA U.S. Foreign Affairs Leadership Project
Alexandria J. Maloney leads the BPIA U.S. Foreign Affairs Leadership Project and serves as President of Black Professionals in International Affairs. Her work focuses on foreign-policy leadership development, public-service readiness, democratic governance, and strengthening the next generation of U.S. global-affairs leaders.

Jessie Durrett
Director, Public Policy and Stakeholder Engagement, Partnership for Public Service
Jessie Durrett is a foreign and public policy professional focused on strengthening government effectiveness, public institutions, and the future of public service. At the Partnership for Public Service, she works on public policy, stakeholder engagement, and broader efforts to reimagine and reform government. She previously served at the U.S. Department of State, including work related to Ukraine and global criminal justice, and holds a master’s degree from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. 

Emily Perkins
Executive Director, Leadership Council for Women in National Security (LCWINS)
Emily Perkins is a senior nonprofit leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning international program management, fundraising, and external relations. Before joining LCWINS, she served as Vice President of Development at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and spent eight years at the Brookings Institution leading fundraising strategy and operations across policy programs. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Boston College and an LL.M. from the University of Kent’s Brussels School of International Studies

Alia Awadallah
Senior Managing Director, Creative Defense Foundation | Former Director, Executive Secretariat, U.S. Department of Commerce
Alia Awadallah is a former U.S. government official with experience across the Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Commerce, and Office of the Vice President. Her service has included defense policy and security cooperation, strategic planning, executive-branch operations, and advising senior national-security leaders.

Devontae Freeland
Professor of Practice in Public Policy, Universitat Pompeu Fabra–Barcelona School of Management | Former Associate Director for National Security Agency Personnel, White House Presidential Personnel Office
Devontae Freeland has served across the White House, U.S. Trade Representative, and Biden-Harris Transition Team. His experience includes presidential personnel, national-security appointments, White House operations, transition planning, and strategic partnerships.