Rebecca Gansca, Director, brings extensive experience in national security and foreign policy, having served as the National Security Advisor to Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii.
Prior to joining SMI, Rebecca served a decade in the Marine Corps as a Judge Advocate. Her assignments included five years at the Pentagon, where she held roles in the Office of Counsel for the Command and as a Defense Fellow in Senator Hirono’s office. Her final active-duty role involved serving as a strategist to the Deputy Commandant and contributing to the transition team for the 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Berger. Before joining Senator Hirono's staff, she worked as an Associate Counsel in the Navy's Office of the General Counsel, specializing in government contracting. Currently serving in the Marine Corps Reserves at Headquarters Marine Corps, Rebecca also holds a role as a Strategic Communications Liaison.
Rebecca has a B.A. in International Politics from Penn State University, a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and an LL.M. in Government Procurement Law from The George Washington University Law School.