With ASG you gain more than a government affairs partner — you are partnering with a bipartisan team of seasoned legislative and defense experts who know how to get things done in Washington D.C. and beyond due to their proven firsthand experience. Together we work to elevate funding levels for defense, healthcare, and community-based initiatives. Our team brings decades of experience from senior roles across the legislative and executive branches and DoD, giving us insight and operational expertise to navigate complex government landscapes and effectively navigate the appropriations process to secure sustained and increased federal investment for our clients’ priorities.
Bipartisan Experience. Proven Leadership. Real Results.
Leadership
Bio
Cece Siracuse is the founding principal of Atlantic Strategies Group LLC (ASG), a woman-owned, relationship-driven advisory firm with over 30 years of experience delivering trusted counsel in national security, defense community support, and military healthcare. These core focus areas reflect where she delivers deep expertise, while her advisory work also spans a broader range of defense and federal policy issues. With a deep-rooted understanding of both legislative and executive processes, Cece has built a reputation for strategic insight, policy fluency, and an unwavering commitment to mission-focused results.
She works closely with clients to secure increased federal appropriations, advance priority initiatives, and navigate the complexities of Capitol Hill with clarity and confidence. The enduring value she brings to each partnership has led to long-standing client relationships, many of whom have worked with her for decades.
Cece’s public service career began in 1987 with Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA), where she served in several roles including Projects Director and Principal Legislative Assistant for Military Affairs, with a strong focus on defense industries and communities in Georgia. From 1994 to 1996, she served as Director of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. She then held the post of Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and Executive Director for House Affairs from 1996 to 1998, serving as the Department of Defense’s chief civilian liaison to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Before founding ASG, Cece held senior roles in both the public and private sectors, including Vice President of Governmental Affairs at Sierra Military Health Services and Principal at Hurt, Norton & Associates.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Georgia and continues to serve as a trusted advisor to defense contractors, federal health agencies, and national security stakeholders.
Claire Russo
Vice President
Bio
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.
Senior Advisors
Bio
General Fraser is a proven strategic leader, administrator, and communicator. He is a highly decorated retired General of the United States Air Force and landed at the pinnacle of the United States Military as one of nine Combatant Commanders.
During 40 years of service, he held a variety of demanding and staff positions. He has led large- scale, diverse, global organizations where he earned a reputation as a motivational leader, strategic thinker and change agent who delivered solutions to the most complex challenges. As Commander, United States Transportation Command—a Unified, Combatant Command—he answered directly to the President of the United States and Secretary of Defense and served as the single manager responsible for global air, land, and maritime transport for the Department of Defense. He led the most comprehensive and collaborative strategic planning effort in the command’s 25 year history. His diplomatic skill fostered new international partnerships and strengthened others enhancing the nation’s unparalleled ability to rapidly project influence, anywhere at anytime. He led over 130,000 personnel and annually executed over $12 billion of business.
As Commander, Air Combat Command, the largest major command in the Air Force, he was responsible for organizing, training, equipping and maintaining combat ready forces while ensuring strategic air defense forces were ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime defense. The command consisted of over 130,000 personnel who operated over 2000 aircraft at more than 300 locations worldwide.
As Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, he presided over the Air Staff and served as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Requirements Oversight Council and Deputy Advisory Working Group. He led the organization, training and equipping of over 690,000 people serving in the United States Air Force and provided oversight of a $120 billion annual budget.
Bio
Lt Gen Tuck is the CEO of Robbins-Gioia, where he leads the company in optimizing commercial and defense MRO planning and scheduling through next-generation software solutions.
A highly accomplished U.S. Air Force veteran, he previously served as Director for Logistics (J4), The Joint Staff, where he played a pivotal role in Sustainment, global supply chain management and Joint Force readiness. He advised the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on such matters related to national defense. He also served as Deputy Director, Supply, Production, and Distribution for the Federal COVID-19 Response, overseeing critical logistics efforts.
Prior to joining Robbins-Gioia, he was Vice President for Global Military & Government Sales at CAE Healthcare, Inc., driving worldwide safety and training solutions.
With deep expertise in strategic planning, logistics, and supply chain operations, Lt Gen Tuck has a proven track record of leading high-performing teams and fostering innovation in complex, high-pressure environments.
Bio
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.
