Alia Awadallah serves as the Director of the Executive Secretariat at the U.S. Department of Commerce since May 2024, overseeing key communication and briefing material preparation for senior officials. Previously, Alia was a CFR Term Member and held prominent positions such as Policy Team Lead and Senior Advisor to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army, where responsibilities included national security strategy and policy oversight. Additional experience includes founding the NextGen Initiative at Foreign Policy for America and serving as Special Advisor in the Office of the Vice President on national security affairs. Alia's background also includes roles in the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense, alongside volunteer efforts in political campaigns and think tanks. Educational credentials include a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from Johns Hopkins SAIS and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Political Science from Kent State University.