Nic Adams is a nonresident senior fellow with the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs. He is also a partner at Washington Office, where he advises frontier technology firms on strategic communications, business development, and government relations to advance the national interest.

He most recently served as a professional staff member on the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and as senior advisor to Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). Previously, he worked as national security advisor to Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and as military legislative assistant to Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH). His portfolio included defense, intelligence, foreign affairs, energy, science, space, and technology. In recent years, Adams has played a central role in advancing legislation to preserve the United States’ competitive edge. He was among the primary drafters of the CHIPS for America Act. He also authored legislation to prevent China’s recruitment of former US intelligence officers and led the development of the Sensible Classification Act of 2023, aimed at rebuilding public trust in the federal government.

Prior to his work on Capitol Hill, Adams served as a commissioned officer in the US Army. He deployed multiple times to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as to Jordan and Iraq during the Global War on Terror. After ten years on active duty, he transitioned to the Army Reserve. Adams holds a BS in political science from Boise State University and a master of international public policy from the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies.