Our Common Mission
Alex Gallo
Executive Director, CMP
Bio | LinkedIn
Alex Gallo is the Executive Director of the Common Mission Project (CMP). He is also a Fellow with the National Security Institute at George Mason University and the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. He also serves as an adjunct Assistant Professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. Prior to this role with CMP, Alex served as a Professional Staff Member with the House Armed Services Committee and served as an Instructor in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point and the Deputy Director of the Combating Terrorism Center. Alex began his career as a U.S. Army officer, including a peacekeeping deployment to Kosovo and a combat tour in Iraq.
In the famed dystopian Alice in Wonderland, there’s a scene during which Alice and the Red Queen are running amidst chaos — yet staying in one place. Alice says, “In my world, when we run, we get places.” The Queen replies, “In this world, it takes all the running you can just to stay in the same place.”
The United States has found itself existing in the Red Queen phenomenon, and it is quickly becoming one of the biggest threats to our nation’s future. In the last two decades alone, we have seen unprecedented, massive shocks to the system, from 9/11 to crippling cyberattacks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the quickening pace and severity of these problems, our march toward solving them remains the same. And while the nature of these problems are changing, our approach remains unchanged. In no uncertain terms, this is a losing strategy.
I believe The Common Mission Project’s “Hacking For” program can evolve the United States in the way it needs to thrive. Our program’s value has been demonstrated repeatedly, and it’s low barrier to adoption has positioned it for limitless potential in solving humanity’s most critical challenges.
As we see rise of authoritarian regimes, it is vitally important that in democratic nations the government, universities, and the private sector of the US and its allies work together to solve critical issues quickly — in energy, the environment, national security, and natural disasters, especially. So far, we have been keeping up with these problems, but we are not getting ahead of them. We need a cohort to lead the way, and CMP’s “Hacking For” program can be a key part of that progress. As esteemed military officers, government organizations, and academic experts join our movement, it is clear we are not alone in this belief.
CMP has developed a program that facilitates democratic problem solving on a worldwide scale, harnessing the best minds of those who, over time, will build broader bridges among the private sector, government, and academic institutions in a systematic and constructive way. The program’s hands-on, problem-centric approach marries entrepreneurship with public service, and formally acknowledges that we simply can’t solve our problems alone. Pandemics, climate changes, and grave security threats touch everybody on the planet.
As such, we are calling on partners, investors, and educators around the globe to support our commitment to transforming higher education in a way that brings the impact we need to today’s world. Whether it’s through financial support, shared expertise or advocacy, we’re asking you to join us in building a better future.
Thank you,
Alex Gallo
Executive Director, Common Mission Project