Cece Siracuse has more than 25 years of experience in legislative and executive positions in the federal government. A founding partner of ASG, she provides strategic legislative and policy advice to clients on issues ranging from defense, national security, defense communities, military healthcare, labor, environmental conservation and several other policy areas. She is an expert in the areas of military and veterans’ health care, and defense community representation.

Cece served from 1996 to 1998 as the chief civilian appointee from the Department of Defense for liaison to the U.S. House of Representatives, the post of acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and Executive Director for House Affairs. She began her government service in 1987 on the personal staff of Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) where she had several positions including Projects Director and Principal Legislative Assistant for Military Affairs, working extensively in supporting defense business and defense communities in Georgia. She was the Director of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission from 1994 to 1996. Prior to joining Hurt, Norton & Associates, she was the Vice President, Governmental Affairs, for Sierra Military Health Services, Inc. Cece earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia.

Heba comes to ASG after nearly a decade on Capitol Hill, most recently serving as Military Legislative Assistant to former U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO). As the Senator’s senior defense policy advisor, Heba played a defining role by helping secure authorization and federal appropriations for several key national security priorities and infrastructure projects across Colorado, specifically in the areas of national security space and cyber. Heba also worked closely with state and local leaders to expand professional licensure opportunities for military spouses moving to Colorado on military orders.

Before joining Senator Gardner’s staff, Heba worked for Senator John Boozman (R-AR) as a member of his personal office’s legislative staff team. Heba helped advance specific constituent interests in national defense, homeland security, immigration, and veterans’ affairs through legislation, appropriations, and advocacy.

Heba’s extensive background influencing, and securing, legislative priorities demonstrates a track record of collaborative problem solving and identification of strategic engagement opportunities for stakeholders and communities alike.

Claire Russo serves as the vice president at Atlantic Strategies Group.  She leads ASG’s work with the Departments of State, Agriculture and Energy, fostering strategic partnerships and advancing the objectives of our clients.  Drawing on extensive experience in strategic employment of military forces, international crisis response and diplomatic negotiations, Claire is the architect of the networks we build to achieve our clients desired outcomes.

Prior to her current role, Claire served as a Senior Advisor International Crisis Response to the White House where she led efforts to evacuate high risk individuals, populations and commodities from conflict and crisis. In this role, she facilitated cross-cultural and interagency coordination from the tactical to the strategic. Claire managed sensitive diplomatic negotiations and established unprecedented cooperation across government agencies and the private sector.

Earlier in her career, Claire spent over a decade in the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense.  As an intelligence officer, she did groundbreaking work identifying critical local national networks for nonlethal engagement to achieve mission critical goals.  Claire drew on her significant experience in defense policy, cross cultural communication and tactical military operations when she facilitated the creation of specialized teams to support U.S. Special Operations during the global war on terror. She served as an advisor to the Commander of all military forces in Afghanistan as well as to the Assistant Secretary for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. Claire served as International Affairs Fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations and holds a bachelor’s degree in International Politics from Tulane University.  Her diverse background and expertise in network development and strategic planning equip her to build multifaceted corporate and government partnerships in complex international landscapes.