Next in Nuclear Women's Leadership Retreat

(Above) 2026 Next in Nuclear Women's Leadership Retreat Cohort, March 6-8, 2026

Program Overview

The Next in Nuclear Women’s Leadership Retreat is designed for mid-career women in senior roles who are preparing to step into senior executive leadership positions. It provides dedicated space to reflect on the leadership journey, strengthen skills, and connect with a small group of peers navigating similar career pathways. The Retreat is hosted in Spotsylvania, Virginia and features social activities, senior executive speakers, and small group mentoring. The cohort participants are selected by invitation or referral.

Meet The 2026 Cohort

Annelise Atkinson is the founder of Longleaf Atomics, LLC, an energy, environment, and nuclear security consulting company. For more than 15 years, she has advised senior government leaders, including cabinet secretaries, CEOs, and governors on national security and strategic decision-making. Annelise previously served as a foreign affairs specialist and federal program manager at the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) where she oversaw nuclear threat reduction efforts in the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. She currently advises NNSA’s Office of International Nuclear Safeguards on safeguards implementation and safeguards technology development for the International Atomic Energy Agency. From 2013 to 2017, she served in the Obama Administration as Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Energy and later as Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Annelise holds an MA in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and an MA in International Relations from Moscow State Institute of International Relations. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa. She lives in North Carolina with her family and two in rescue dogs.

Ashley Christ works at the State Department in the Office of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. She served previously as a policy advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva and on nonproliferation issues at the U.S. Mission in Vienna. She has also worked at the National Nuclear Security Administration advancing international nuclear safeguards and at various NGOs including the Nuclear Threat Initiative and Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control. She earned her degree at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) after a stint at the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee.

Diana Hartford currently works at the Department of State as a Senior Program Advisor in the Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation (ACN). She delivers foreign assistance programming focused on countering the misuse and diversion of advanced and emerging technologies and serves as her office’s AI Lead. She is approaching six years with ACN and has delivered programming across the world covering a range of subject matter including counter DPRK maritime sanctions evasion and proliferation financing including cryptocurrency theft and laundering. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she co-chaired a multilateral initiative designed to facilitate radiological/nuclear security assistance to Ukraine and coordinated and tracked western provisions. Prior to joining ACN, she worked in the U.S. Foreign Service Institute’s School of Language Studies. Diana holds an M.A. in International Security, Comparative Regional Studies, and Human Security from The Fletcher School of Global Affairs at Tufts University and a B.A. dual-degree in International Relations and Integrated Marketing Communications from Duquesne University.

Rachel Hicks is a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State, where she works on international security, arms control, and the governance of multilateral institutions. Her portfolio has included the G7 and G20, United Nations disarmament and international security processes, and oversight of international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Previously, Rachel spent a decade in the State Department’s Arms Control Bureau, where she worked on multilateral nuclear policy, strategic stability, and nuclear risk reduction, including service as the Department’s Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) P5 Process Coordinator and as Executive Secretary for the U.S. delegation to the United Nations General Assembly First Committee. She also completed a detail with the National Nuclear Security Administration focused on emerging nuclear verification challenges. Rachel has served abroad in the political section of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, and is a member of the CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues Mid-Career Cadre. She is a former United Nations Disarmament Fellow and Presidential Management Fellow. Earlier in her career, she worked at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and was a professional singer and music teacher. She holds a Master of Public Administration and dual bachelor's degrees in Communication Studies and Philosophy.

Jane Kim Coloseus is Principal at Emzo Consulting LLC that supports policy development and analysis for clients including AI think tanks, community nonprofits, and congressional campaigns. She previously held senior roles at the U.S. Department of State, serving as Senior Policy Advisor to the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State, where she focused on critical and emerging technologies policy, strategic foresight, and global innovation ecosystems. She also served as Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications to the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, advancing U.S. policies on global risk reduction, arms control revitalization, civil-nuclear cooperation, regional security assistance, and responsible military use of AI. Prior to government service, KC spent a decade in the nonprofit sector, including with the United Nations, advocating for the accreditation of nuclear security professionals, promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear technology and applications, and recruiting candidates to run for public office. She holds an MSc in Government Analytics from Johns Hopkins University, dual Bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology and History from the University of Virginia, and a post-graduate certificate in Terrorism Studies from the University of St. Andrews.

Michelle Nalabandian is a Senior Advisor to the DTRA Director and Chief of DTRA’s Pentagon Integration Office. In this capacity, she serves as an advisor and senior leader on Agency priorities, emerging threats, and global security challenges. She oversees high-impact initiatives that advance integrated solutions to mitigate weapons of mass destruction threats and implements Agency-wide priorities, cross-cutting strategies, and organizational objectives. Prior to her current role, she served as Chief of the Director’s Action Group. Previously, Ms. Nalabandian served as a Senior Program Officer at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, where she shaped critical efforts to strengthen biological and nuclear security globally. A recognized thought leader, she brings nearly 20 years of experience spanning strategy, policy, acquisition, and technical leadership across chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and cyber security domains in both public and private sectors. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in forensic science.

Dr. Mareena Robinson Snowden is a senior professional staff member in the National Security Analysis Department at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where her research focuses on deterrence, arms control, and emerging technology issues. Prior to returning to the laboratory in 2024, Robinson Snowden served as a senior advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. In this role, she advised the Under Secretary on national security and foreign policy issues concerning arms control, deterrence, and stability. Robinson Snowden also served as a senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance at the U.S. Department of State from 2022-2023. Robinson Snowden holds a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in nuclear engineering, and a B.S. in physics from Florida A&M University. Outside of work, she is a mother of two very squishy tiny humans and over 30 plants. She likes exploring new small towns, cute coffee shops, consignment shopping, and lifting heavy things.

Rayna Rogers is an arms control specialist with deep expertise in international treaty verification and weapons of mass destruction policy. She currently serves as a National Security Analyst at Savannah River National Laboratory, where she supports the NNSA’s Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control portfolio. Her work focuses on translating complex technical issues into actionable policy insights. Previously, Rayna worked at the State Department as both a Special Assistant in the Office of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security and a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Bureau of Arms Control, Stability, and Deterrence. In these roles, she advised senior leaders on arms control compliance, deterrence, and WMD policy, and led interagency efforts to produce the annual Congressional arms control compliance reports. Her experience spans national laboratories, academia, and government, including safeguards policy work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and strategic research at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. Rayna has completed hands-on nuclear safeguards and security training at a research reactor in the Czech Republic and holds a master’s degree in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Her work bridges technical analysis, diplomacy, and strategic policy development to advance global nuclear security.

Simone Williams is a defense national security professional with a focus on nuclear security and nonproliferation. She previously served as the Special Assistant to the Acting Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. In her role, she provided technical advice and guidance, managed congressional engagement and workforce initiatives, and supported a broad portfolio of acquisition and sustainment, including leading engagements to advance NATO's multi-year modernization of the Alliance's communication capabilities. Most recently, Ms. Williams was the Director of Programs for the Leadership Council for Women in National Security (LCWINS), where she worked to advance women's representation in national security leadership. In this role, she led and managed the implementation of current and future programming for LCWINS. Previously, she was a program manager and research associate with the Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Prior to her role at PONI, she worked with the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative at CSIS. Before moving to DC, she worked as a project manager for a healthcare communication company in Chicago. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a master's degree in international affairs from American University. She is a current CFR Term Member and one of the honorees on the 2022 CSIS-DINSN U.S. National Security and Foreign Affairs Leadership List.

Melissa Ullom is an expert in nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons as well as their delivery devices. She uses open source and classified information to verify arms control treaties, track proliferation trends, and provide national security recommendations. She has worked in academia, think tanks, and government. She currently serves as Senior Advisor for Verification and Compliance in the Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation at the U.S. Department of State.

Katelyn Yeamans is a Senior Scientific Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War in the Office of Nuclear Matters and a member of the Nuclear Weapons Council (NWC) Staff, shaping nuclear weapons stockpile policy and planning. She has held research & development engineering & management positions at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and served as a U.S. Navy Reactor Shift Test Engineer for Ohio-class submarines. Katelyn holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from New Mexico Tech, an M.S. in structural engineering from UC San Diego, a Professional Engineering license, and a Systems Engineering Professional certification (CSEP). She began her PhD in Systems Engineering at GWU in 2025 and is a member of the 2025 PONI Mid-Career Cadre. When you meet Katelyn in person, ask her about Jeff.

Anna Wagner works as a contractor in the Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation within the Cooperative Threat Reduction (ACN/CTR) Office at the U.S. Department of State, where she supports a diverse nuclear energy and security portfolio as a Senior Program Advisor. Prior to joining the Department of State, Anna worked as an implementer supporting nuclear security projects at ACN/CTR and ACN/NDF, was a Nuclear Scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an ACONA Fellow with the Negotiation Task Force, and conducted arms control research at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Outside of work, Anna enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with her family.