Alex Gallo, Ph.D is a Vice President in BGR’s Defense and Critical Technologies Practice where he applies his extensive expertise to help clients navigate the complex and evolving national defense and technology landscape. With over 20 years of experience in the U.S. military, government relations, defense policy, and innovation, Alex has forged a distinguished career bridging government, private industry, and academia. He has held leadership roles across the Executive Branch and Capitol Hill, advising senior policymakers and advocating for a diverse array of clients—including defense tech companies, non-profits, and startups shaping the future of national security.
Prior to joining BGR, Alex served as Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Public Policy at the NobleReach Foundation and Executive Director of the Common Mission Project (CMP) where he expanded the Hacking for Defense® (H4D) program to more than 60 universities across the United States. He also held a senior advisory role at BMNT Inc, a defense innovation consultancy based in Palo Alto and Washington, DC.
Throughout his career in government service, Alex has held key roles that have influenced national defense policy. As a Professional Staff Member on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), he advised the Chairman, conducted oversight, and contributed to drafting critical provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). He was a professor in the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he educated future military leaders on global security issues. Additionally, he served as the Deputy Director of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, focusing on counterterrorism research and education.
In addition to his work in government and academia, Alex has served as a non-resident Senior Associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC. His writing and analysis have been featured in The Hill, Foreign Affairs, The Economist, the Modern War Institute, The Cipher Brief, Defense Studies, and CTC Sentinel.
Alex is an adjunct associate professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. He is also a Fellow with the National Security Institute at George Mason University and the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.
Alex began his career as a U.S. Army officer. His operational deployments included a peacekeeping tour in Kosovo and a combat tour in Iraq.
Alex holds a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a PhD from Leiden University’s School of Governance and Global Affairs.
Areas of Focus
- Defense strategy
- emerging technologies
- defense innovation
Education
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United States Military Academy
B.S., American Politics, Policy, and Strategy -
Harvard Kennedy School
MPP, International Security and Political Economy -
Leiden University
PhD, Governance and Global Affairs