AI capabilities are advancing rapidly, and the most recent generation of models has brought the security implications of those advances into sharp public focus. Policymakers and the federal government are mobilizing to respond, but have also identified a consistent bottleneck to effective action: a shortage of government staff with domain expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and other relevant fields.
The AI Rapid Response Fellowship is a focused effort to help close that gap. Horizon is recruiting a specialized cohort of exceptional technical and policy talent to work full-time at executive branch offices on AI security-related issues, with placements beginning as soon as possible.
Unlike our regular Horizon Fellowship program, which supports people transitioning into public service careers, the AI Rapid Response Fellowship is built for people with relevant prior experience who can contribute to executive branch offices from day one. Candidates who have worked in government before are encouraged to apply. Relevant experience can include technical or policy work in cybersecurity, AI/ML, biosecurity, or China studies, among many other areas. Some fellows will be deeply technical, others more policy-focused, and many will bring a mix of both. Strong candidates across this spectrum should apply.
Awards:- The program has two tracks: a Fellow track for established professionals (typically 2-6+ years of experience) and a Senior Fellow track for candidates ready to play a senior role in government (typically 10-15+ years of experience). Nearly all roles will be DC-based, but a small number may be performed remotely or from another city where the host agency maintains an office (e.g. San Francisco). US citizenship is required. An existing security clearance, or eligibility to obtain one, is helpful but not required. Salaries range from $170K–$250K+.
Deadline:- 22-07-2026
