Staff

Kevin Turpin II is president of National Journal Group, a research and information services portfolio company. Since Turpin took over the role of president in 2016, he has led the organization through a complete transformation from a traditional media company to its current enterprise, which includes founding a new portfolio company, Gravity Research. The company has experienced double digit revenue growth every year since he took the helm.

Turpin has a deep passion for mentorship of young people and serves as chair of the board of City Year DC; a non-profit dedicated to mentoring young people during their primary and secondary years of education. He is also the board chair of Gracism Global, a non-profit focused on equipping leaders that have decided to bridge the deep divides of color, class, and culture in their industries. In addition, Turpin serves as a member of the Economic Club of Washington and the Council on Foreign Relations. A proud Hoya, Turpin is a graduate of Georgetown University.

Emily Akhtarzandi is Chief Revenue Officer of National Journal. In this role, she leads growth of the National Journal membership portfolio, new client development and product launches.

Afzal Bari serves as CFO and CSO for National Journal Group. Afzal previously held roles at Bloomberg Government, Corporate Executive Board, Capco Consulting, and several startups. Afzal holds an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, undergraduate degrees from the University of Maryland College Park, and is a CFA Charterholder. He lives in Chevy Chase, Md. with his wife and two children.

Chris Dornfeld is senior vice president of technology at National Journal, where he’s responsible for crafting and executing the vision for NJ’s interactive offerings and overseeing information technology. Prior to National Journal, Chris held senior leadership roles in engineering and analytics at Manifest and co-founded a DC-based web development firm. Chris holds a B.S. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon and is widely recognized for typing very fast and very loud. He lives in Washington.

Jeff Dufour is National Journal's editor in chief. He was previously a columnist and editor for The Hill newspaper and the Washington Examiner, and an editor for Condé Nast Publications. He began his journalism career at American Healthline, which was then a part of the National Journal Group. He has been a guest on NBC's "Today Show," Fox News, MSNBC, "The Dennis Miller Show," Sirius XM, and WTOP radio. A Connecticut native, Jeff is a graduate of Georgetown University.

Gina Kim is Chief Research Officer at National Journal. In this role, she provides the vision and drives the strategy for the product suite, leading a team of content producers and managers. Gina previously spent five years at Grant Thornton, including four years as director of public policy and external affairs. Gina also served as research director at CEB, managing quantitative and best-practice research studies for senior-most finance executives. During a six-year tenure at The NASDAQ Stock Market, she held a variety of research and strategy positions, including roles in the corporate client group and office of the vice chairman. Gina holds a master's degree in labor economics from Cornell University, where she was a Sage Graduate Fellow. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Bryn Mawr College, and currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees. She resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband and two daughters.

Lesley Martinez is vice president of marketing and product at National Journal where she is responsible for developing NJ’s marketing and product strategy and vision and overseeing marketing operations and events. Prior to National Journal, Lesley spent six years at CEB where she managed demand generation, acquisition marketing, and retention strategies for their finance clients both in the large enterprise and smb space. Prior to CEB she was at The Chronicle of Higher Education/The Chronicle of Philanthropy managing marketing efforts for corporate advertisers and new product launches. Lesley is a D.C. native and attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. She lives in Virginia with her husband and two daughters.

Pope Ward is Senior Vice President of Product at National Journal, focusing on product content, operations, and strategy. Prior to this role, he held a variety of research positions in membership-based information services firms, including as Chief Research officer (CRO) for the Advisory Board for the Arts and, before that, for the Corporate Executive Board (now Gartner), where he spent 20 years. Pope has run product for diverse businesses, including digital-learning company, CorpU (now Udemy), and healthcare-analytics startup Allium Health, which he co-founded. He served for two years at the Office of Management and Budget, where he advised the Deputy Director for Management and led performance and efficiency efforts spanning federal agencies. Pope graduated from Amherst College and lives with his wife and three boys in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He’s a birdwatcher.

Christie is an Executive Director of Member Services with National Journal. Originally from Baltimore, Christie graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland where she earned a B.A. in political science and a minor in philosophy. Prior to National Journal, she spent four years at the Advisory Board Company across a variety of account management roles. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Kyle Atlas serves as a Dedicated Advisor for Government Affairs. Originally from Charlotte, NC, he graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Political Science and a minor in English. Prior to his current role, Kyle served as a Senior Membership Development Associate at National Journal and held other client development positions for a nonprofit. He currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Kees Bruggen serves as a Dedicated Advisor for Government Relations. Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL , as well as from George Washington University with a Masters’ Degree in Political Management. His previous work experience is on political campaigns, interning on Capitol Hill, at a political strategies firm and most recently at POLITICO Pro. Has lived in DC for most of his life but is originally from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Has lived in South Carolina and Santander, Spain. Currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Aleksia Ilic Forster is a Director with National Journal. She has over a decade of experience working with a diverse range of clients from Fortune 500 corporations, associations, non-profit organizations, embassies, and the federal government.

Jamie Lance is a Strategic Engagement Associate with National Journal. She graduated from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 2022 with a major in Culture and Politics and a minor in Arabic. Prior to National Journal, she worked in politics at the state and federal level and in non-profit fundraising. Jamie is originally from Massachusetts and currently resides in Washington, DC.

Molly Palmer is a Dedicated Advisor with National Journal. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Prior to joining National Journal, Molly's work experience focused on customer success and marketing for nonprofits. Molly is originally from Orlando, FL, and now resides in Washington, D.C.

George E. Condon Jr. is White House correspondent for National Journal. He joined National Journal at the beginning of the Obama administration, covering the White House for CongressDaily. Prior to that, he covered the White House and national politics as Washington bureau chief for Copley News Service and the San Diego Union-Tribune. Condon has interviewed nine presidents and reported from 88 countries. He led the team that won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for coverage of the corruption of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Condon is a past president of the White House Correspondents Association and the Gridiron Club and past chairman of the National Press Foundation. He is a native of Cleveland and a graduate of Georgetown University.

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Charlie Cook is a political analyst for National Journal where he publishes a weekly column and hosts a biweekly virtual series. In 1984, he founded The Cook Political Report, an independent, non-partisan newsletter. He is a regular contributor to the newly named The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, co-author of The Almanac of American Politics, and political analyst for NBC News. In 2010, Charlie was a co-recipient of the American Political Science Association's prestigious Carey McWilliams award to honor "a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics." Charlie served as a Resident Fellow in 2013 at the Institute of Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

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Tom DeFrank is a contributing editor at National Journal and was Washington bureau chief of the New York Daily News from 1996 to 2012. DeFrank was Newsweek's senior White House correspondent for a quarter century, covering eight Presidents and 12 Presidential campaigns. He has reported on the resignation of one President, the impeachment of a second, and was an eyewitness to assassination attempts against a third. His reporting has been praised as "riveting." ABC News calls him "excellent, well-connected and influential," and "legendary." The American Journalism Review rated him "one of the unsung stars of Washington journalism." And President Gerald R. Ford called him "one of the finest journalists I have ever known. Everyone I know feels the same way: you are fair, trustworthy and professional."

His 2007 book on 30 years of private conversations with President Ford, "Write it When I'm Gone," was a New York Times and Washington Post bestseller. In 2006 DeFrank won the Gerald R. Ford Prize for distinguished Presidential reporting. He co-authored Secretary of State James A. Baker III's memoirs and "Quest for the Presidency 1992," Newsweek's critically-acclaimed look at the 1992 Clinton-Bush election. He has been a student of the Presidency since 1968, when he took his first Presidential trip with Lyndon Johnson as a Newsweek intern. He traveled extensively with Richard Nixon and was assigned to Vice President Gerald Ford in October 1973. A few weeks before Nixon's resignation, he was reassigned to the White House and remained when Ford became President in August 1974.

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Jeff Dufour is National Journal's editor in chief. He was previously a columnist and editor for The Hill newspaper and the Washington Examiner, and an editor for Condé Nast Publications. He began his journalism career at American Healthline, which was then a part of the National Journal Group. He has been a guest on NBC's "Today Show," Fox News, MSNBC, "The Dennis Miller Show," Sirius XM, and WTOP radio. A Connecticut native, Jeff is a graduate of Georgetown University.

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Erin Durkin is a health care correspondent at National Journal covering Congress. She previously was the managing editor and reporter for FDA Week covering food, drug, and device regulation. Durkin also contributed to a project at The Center for Public Integrity by analyzing Medicare Advantage data. Originally from Baltimore, she graduated from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland in 2013.

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Jerry Hagstrom is a columnist for National Journal. He writes and publishes The Hagstrom Report, a daily email newsletter on agriculture and for DTN, an Omaha-based agricultural news service.

Prior to his role as a columnist, Hagstrom covered agriculture and politics for National Journal. In the 1980s he pioneered the magazine's coverage of the political consulting industry. He is the author of Beyond Reagan: The New Landscape of American Politics; To Be, Not To Be Seen: The Mystery of Swedish Business; and, with Neal R. Peirce, of The Book of America: Inside 50 States Today.

Hagstrom grew up on a North Dakota farm homesteaded by his grandparents. He is a graduate of the University of Denver and has been a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University and a research fellow at the Freedom Forum Media Studies Center at Columbia University. He lectures frequently in the United States and abroad. The American Journalism Review has named Hagstrom one of its "unsung heroes" for "sterling work in the shadows" covering agriculture.

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Philip Athey is the technology policy editor, covering tech for National Journal Daily and overseeing the PolicyView: AI publication. Previously he covered the Marine Corps for Military Times and environmental policy for E&E News. Philip has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arizona State University. Prior to entering journalism, he was a cannoneer in the United States Marine Corps. Philip is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Savannah Behrmann is a staff correspondent covering the U.S. Senate. Before joining National Journal, Savannah was a reporter at USA TODAY where she covered Congress and all things politics, including the 2020 election. Prior, she worked at CNN. Hailing originally from Utah, Savannah graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor’s degree in political communication. She resides in the D.C. area.

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Natalie Jackson writes the "Leading Indicators" column for National Journal. She is currently a vice president at GQR Research Institute. She previously developed surveys at the Public Religion Research Institute, and held senior and management positions at JUST Capital, HuffPost, and the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. She received a BA in political science and history from West Texas A&M University and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Oklahoma. She also writes the newsletter "Herding Cats & Polls" at Substack.

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Ledyard "Ledge" King is managing editor of National Journal Daily, overseeing content and production. He was previously at USA Today and the Gannett network of papers for more than 20 years, covering the White House, Congress, and presidential races. He’s also worked at the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and the Annapolis Capital-Gazette.

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Cristina Maza is foreign policy and defense correspondent for National Journal. She previously covered foreign policy and international affairs for Newsweek, was the Washington D.C. correspondent for the German news wire DPA, worked as a reporter for the Phnom Penh Post in Cambodia, and was a reporting fellow for the Christian Science Monitor in Washington. She has a B.A. from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, and a master's degree from University College London's School of Slavonic and East European Studies.

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Taameen Mohammad is the Senior Production Editor at National Journal. Previously, she worked at Voice of America as part of the Media Resource Team and interned at NBC Washington. She graduated from American University in 2019 with a BA in broadcast journalism and a minor in international relations. During her time at American University, she worked at the student-run newspaper The Eagle as a Multimedia Editor. Taameen was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area and still resides there.

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Hannah Thacker is associate editor of Hotline. Before joining National Journal, Hannah was a copy aide at The Washington Post, where they worked on records requests and aided in reporting on the Investigative team. Hannah graduated from the George Washington University with a B.A. in political communication and a concentration in journalism. While at GW, Hannah served as a writer, editor, and eventually the managing director of the university’s independent student-run newspaper, The GW Hatchet. Originally from Los Angeles, Hannah currently lives in D.C.

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Casey Wooten is senior congressional correspondent for National Journal, covering House leadership and tax policy. He previously covered agriculture and tax issues for Bloomberg BNA, and served as an energy and banking reporter at Houston Business Journal. A Houston native, he has a B.A. from the University of Houston and a master's in journalism and public affairs from American University.

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Takuya Amagai is a Senior Policy & Data Visualization Associate with the National Journal's Presentation Center. Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Takuya previously worked as a research associate at Vote Smart, informing Americans about their candidates. Most recently, Takuya was working as a Counties Future Labs Intern at the National Association of Counties, where he worked on projects such as the American Rescue Plan. Takuya holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science and International Relations from Carleton College, and a Masters in Public Policy Degree from McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University. He currently resides in Arlington, Virginia.

Jehan Bugli is a Research, Data, & Automation Manager with National Journal's Presentation Center. He recently completed his B.S. from the University of Michigan, studying Economics and Biology. Jehan is from Novi, MI and will be moving to Washington, D.C. this summer.

Kat Caleca serves as the Associate Director of the Presentation Center. Prior to joining National Journal, Kat organized for elections in Georgia and North Carolina and interned at the EastWest Institute and US Department of State. She graduated from the College of Charleston with degrees in International Studies and Political Science and a minor in Spanish. Originally from Charlotte, NC, Kat currently resides in Washington, DC.

Emma Chun is a Policy & Data Visualization Associate with the National Journal’s Presentation Center, specializing in technology and cybersecurity. She graduated from Duke University with B.A.s in Public Policy and Computer Science and a minor in Music. Prior to joining National Journal, she interned at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and contributed to research projects focused on education and social policy. She is originally from Richmond, VA and now resides in DC.

Jessica Coghlan is a Senior Project Manager with National Journal’s Presentation Center, focusing on tax, labor, economics, and finance policy. She recently graduated from the University of Maryland College Park with a Masters in Public Policy and a B.A. in Government and Politics. Jessica is originally from Sykesville, MD and currently resides in the D.C. area.

Olivia Corley is a Senior Policy and Data Visualization Associate with National Journal’s Presentation Center. She holds a B.A. in both Political Science and Public Policy from the University of Kentucky. During her time at the University of Kentucky, Olivia was a Policy Research Intern within the Presentation Center. Before returning back to National Journal, Olivia went on to complete her M.S. in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania and recently graduated in 2024. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, she currently resides in the Washington D.C. area!

Bri Curran is the Digital and Multimedia Content Associate at National Journal. She graduated from Davidson College in 2023 with a degree in English and a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Bri previously worked as a Graphic Design Assistant at Davidson College Communications. She is originally from Miami, FL.

Thea Dunlevie is a Project Manager in National Journal’s Presentation Center. Before coming to National Journal, she researched foreign policy and national security issues at multiple think tanks in the Washington D.C. area. Previously, she worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Education. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and she is currently earning a master’s degree through Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program. Thea grew up in southern California and now lives in Arlington, Virginia.

Jaylen Joseph is a Product Research Manager at National Journal. He graduated from Georgetown University in 2022 with a degree in International Political Economy & Business. While studying at Georgetown, he also worked with National Journal’s Presentation Center as a Policy & Data Visualization Intern. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Jaylen currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Amelia Navins is a Senior Policy Research Associate at the National Journal. She graduated from the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Public Policy with a concentration in race, law, and social justice, and a minor in History of Law and Policy. Previous to her role at National Journal, Amelia worked on various research projects related to race-based discrimination and the criminal justice system, along with internships in public affairs. Originally from Ardsley, NY, Amelia now lives in DC.

Emily Orem is a Policy and Data Visualization Associate with National Journal. She holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Boston College with a concentration in Climate Change and Societal Adaptation and a minor in English Literature. Prior to National Journal, she held internships in the sustainable agriculture and wildlife conservation fields. A Washington local, she currently resides in the DC area.

Caroline Palmer is a Policy & Data Visualization Associate with the National Journal's Presentation Center. She graduated from a dual-degree program in the spring of 2023, receiving a B.A. from Duke University and a B.S. from Duke Kunshan University in Global Health and Public Policy with a minor in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. While at Duke, she was involved in a number of research projects related to health policy, covering topics including COVID-19 environmental health, and health equity. She has lived in Connecticut and North Carolina and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Peyton Semjen is a Policy and Data Visualization Associate for the Presentation Center’s Concierge team at National Journal. She studied Government and Legal Studies as well as Art History at Bowdoin College where she was previously a researcher in the Government Department researching voter turnout gaps across racial demographics and a Sustainability Analyst for the college. She also previously interned for AmeriCorps working on researching and drafting climate initiatives. Peyton is from Hingham, MA but currently resides in Washington D.C.

Andrew Littler is a Senior Web Developer with National Journal. He graduated from University of St. Thomas in Minnesota with a B.A. in Computer Science. Prior to joining National Journal, Andrew worked in various IT related roles at different companies. He currently lives in Minnesota.

Katherine Bennett is an Events and Marketing Specialist at the National Journal. She graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a degree in Political Science and Public Policy. Prior to this role, she worked as a staff assistant for a Maryland-based lobbying firm and has experience in the Maryland General Assembly. Originally from Annapolis, MD, she now lives in Washington, DC, where she enjoys trying new restaurants with her friends and going to Washington Spirit games.

Chris Holden is the Marketing Operations Manager at National Journal. He manages National Journal's marketing automation software and executes a variety of campaigns that serve the team’s overall goal of attracting and retaining members. Prior to this role, Chris worked at strategy firms, PACs and established his own start-up consulting firm in marketing and research roles. He graduated from George Mason with a degree in Government and International Politics, and currently lives in Arlington, VA.

Sara Stanton is the senior creative director for National Journal Group. Prior to joining National Journal, Sara led their own graphic design studio specializing in data visualization and social impact. Sara holds a masters degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art and an undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont. Originally from New Hampshire, Sara lives in Maine with their wife and two dogs.

Brian Torruellas is a Graphic Design Associate for National Journal. He graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art, where he earned a degree in Graphic Design. After spending 15 years as a Pastry Chef, he pivoted careers to pursue his passion for art and design. Originally from Yonkers, New York, Brian moved to Washington DC in 2010 where he currently resides with his wife and son.

Eamonn Howerter is excited to be joining the National Journal's Vignette team as a Research Associate. Eamonn attended Marquette University, where they received a B.A. in Political Science in 2021. Prior to joining National Journal, Eamonn interned for Senator Tammy Baldwin. Originally from the small town Hinckley, Illinois, they currently reside in Washington DC.

Alice Crump is the Executive Assistant to the President of National Journal Group, the President of Gravity Research and the CFO and CSO for National Journal Group. Originally from Warner Robins, GA, Alice recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and double minors in Political Science and Women's Studies. During her time in Georgia Alice held a long-term internship with ORSI Public Relations Agency and was an active member in UGA's Public Relations Student Society of America. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Shaly Joseph is the Associate Director of Recruiting at National Journal. Prior to joining the team, Shaly served as the Assistant Director of Membership and Intern Operations at NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. During her tenure at NASPA, Shaly managed membership initiatives, implemented strategic renewals campaigns, and developed short and long term data reporting solutions. In addition, she launched a robust internship program providing students with professional development opportunities that support their particular career interests/goals. Earlier, she worked in the Professional & Liberal Studies admissions office at Saint’s Joseph’s University, planning orientation and other recruitment events. Originally from Pennsylvania, Shaly earned a B.A from Saint Joseph’s University in Political Science with concentrations in History, Asian Studies and European Politics.

Elli Kennedy Miller is the Employee Experience and Wellness Manager on the Talent and Culture team. Previous to this role, she worked for 2 years in people operations for a Utah based tech start up called Chatbooks. Elli is a Colorado native and a proud graduate of Brigham Young University. She is currently attending graduate school at Georgetown University alongside her husband. They reside in downtown DC.

Edgard Lacayo serves as the Accounts Receivable Specialist on the Finance team. Originally from Managua, Nicaragua, he graduated from Roanoke College with a BBA and a concentration in Finance and another concentration in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. In his previous position, he worked as an accounting assistant in Nicaragua. During his time at Roanoke College, he served as a research assistant to multiple professors in the Modern Languages and History departments as well as a staff reporter for the college’s student run newspaper, The Brackety Ack. He currently resides in Annandale, Virginia.

Isabel Levatino is the Executive Assistant to the President of National Journal Membership and the President of Gravity Research. She recently graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice and a minor in Spanish. During her time in Delaware, Isabel interned for the Federal U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and was also involved in many activities on campus. Isabel graduated as a McNair Scholar and was awarded the UD Benjamin McLuckie award for her commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Originally from Princeton, New Jersey, she currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Katie McCallion is the Campus Engagement and Talent Operations Associate at National Journal. She graduated from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Prior to her role at National Journal, Katie interned at Sixth Street on their Human Capital Management team, where she supported their Early Career Recruitment initiatives. She is originally from Naperville, Illinois and currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland.