To Serve and to Lead

Captain Lushan Hannah, representing the U.S. Coast Guard, was formerly a National Security Affairs Fellow for the academic year 2021–22 at the Hoover Institution. Captain Hannah’s Coast Guard career includes operational experience in Southern California, New Orleans, and throughout the Pacific Rim where he had the privilege to build partnerships with public and private sector teams to bolster maritime security, clean up pollution, conduct search and rescue, and respond to natural disasters. He reports to the Hoover Institution following a tour as Commanding Officer of the Pacific Strike Team, responsible for mitigating hazardous material incidents for the Western United States, Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific Territories. He earned his commission from Officer Candidate School and holds a Master of Science in Environmental Management from the University of Maryland - UC, a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan and Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. His research interests include disaster resilience, crisis leadership, talent management and national security impacts on the marine transportation system.

Katharine M. R. Beamer, representing the U.S. Department of State, was formerly a National Security Affairs Fellow for the academic year 2021–22 at the Hoover Institution. Katharine Beamer was born and raised in San Diego, California. She graduated from Stanford University in 2001 with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a Master’s degree in Sociology. Katharine joined the Foreign Service in 2001 and has served overseas in U.S. Embassies in Guatemala, Poland, Slovakia, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic, as well as two tours in Washington. In Guatemala, Katharine worked primarily as the Human Rights Officer on the nascent effort to establish the UN International Commission Against Impunity (CICIG). In Poland and Slovakia, Katharine worked as a political officer and followed themes such as ethnic tension, rising extremism, trafficking in persons, rule of law, and judicial integrity. In Bolivia, Katharine served as the Deputy Counselor of the Political, Economic, and Commercial Section, where she prioritized expanding commercial relations between the United States and Bolivia. In Dominican Republic, Katharine served as the Political and Economic Counselor, managing relations with the Dominican government and private sector during the 2018 Dominican Republic’s flip of diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China, the 2020 national presidential and legislative elections, and the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic. In Washington, Katharine worked in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs in the offices of Brazil and Southern Cone Affairs on Paraguay and Uruguay, and in Caribbean Affairs on Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and the Eastern Caribbean. She was also selected to be a State Department Pearson Fellow and served as a Foreign Policy Advisor in the office of Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) from 2011-2012, during which time she worked on passage of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act (Pub. L. 112-208), which provides the State and Treasury Departments with tools to combat corruption and human rights violations overseas. Katharine is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. She has received three individual Superior Honor Awards and several individual and group Meritorious Honor Awards for her service over the course of her career. She enjoys travel, politics, food, and wine. She also is an avid reader and enjoys spending time outdoors. Katharine’s husband, Chase Beamer, is also a diplomat and a former Hoover Fellow, and they are the proud parents of twin boys, Luke and Read.

Lieutenant Commander Brian Harrington, representing the U.S. Navy, was formerly a National Security Affairs Fellow for the academic year 2021-22 at the Hoover Institution. Lieutenant Commander Brian Harrington was raised in Alexandria, Virginia and graduated from the University of Virginia before being commissioned through Officer Candidate School. LCDR Harrington is a Surface Warfare Officer with afloat tours onboard Guided Missile Destroyers (DDGs) and at an Expeditionary Riverine Squadron. He has served as a Combat Systems Officer, Weapons Officer, Boarding and Force Protections Officer, and Rescue Swimmer for afloat operations in PACOM, CENTCOM, EUCOM, the Horn of Africa and expeditionary operations inSoutheast Iraq. Most recently Brian served as the Operations and Plans Officer at Task Force SIX FOUR , the Sixth Fleet Integrated Air and Missile Defense cell in Naples, Italy. LCDR Harrington attended the Naval Postgraduate School where he received a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies with a focus on Europe and Eurasia with Outstanding Thesis recognition. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Army Commendation Medal, as well as multiple unit and service awards.

Lieutenant Colonel Michael E. Feuquay, representing the U.S. Marine Corps, was formerly a National Security Affairs Fellow for the academic year 2021–22 at the Hoover Institution. Feuquay served in a variety of command and support roles throughout his 19-year career as a Financial Management Officer. As a lieutenant, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as the 1st Marine Division Comptroller. As a captain, he served as Company Commander with 1st Recruit Training Battalion at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. In addition, he served as the Deputy Comptroller with 3d Marine Division. During his tour with 3d Marine Division, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, as the Officer in Charge of the Afghan Reintegration Program. As a major, he served as the Branch Head of the Ground Financial Management Branch, with Marine Forces Command. As a lieutenant colonel, Feuquay served as the Comptroller of 2d Marine Logistics Group and commanded the Marine Corps’ Financial Management School. Lieutenant Colonel Feuquay earned an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from San Jose State University and a MA in Human Resource Management from Webster University. Lieutenant Colonel Feuquay’s research at Hoover will focus on emerging threats to U.S. national security, and the Marine Corps’ plan to optimize itself to meet those threats.