Schmidt Futures today announced the appointment of Elizabeth Young McNally, Rhodes and Truman Scholar and former member of the USMA Board of Visitors, as Executive Vice President. In this role, Liz is responsible for leading Schmidt Futures’ development and growth of interdisciplinary teams and institutions to address key public issues. Her early focus will revolve around scaling Schmidt Futures’ efforts relating to technological connectivity, democratic competitiveness, and scientific research.

“As we continue to assemble and support the world’s brightest minds to address global problems, we are pleased to welcome Elizabeth Young McNally to Schmidt Futures,” said Eric Braverman, CEO of Schmidt Futures. “Liz’s appointment reinforces our focus on developing our growing pipeline of global talent and interdisciplinary teams, and we are confident that her proven track record across sectors and broad range of experiences will help us to be even more effective in making the world better.”

Liz brings over two decades of experience in leading diverse, global, mission focused teams to solve complex problems and implement innovative solutions across the private and public sectors, having previously served as the Global Partner Lead for McKinsey Academy, a client facing entity of McKinsey & Company for capability building and leadership development. A West Point graduate, Liz was an officer in the US Army with two year-long tours in Iraq before she joined McKinsey. She served on the senior staff of General David Petraeus as his speechwriter, also serving as a Military Police officer while in uniform. Liz and her husband John currently reside in New York with their three school-aged children.

The new appointment reflects the growing mission of Schmidt Futures to bet early on exceptional people making the world better, and Liz will play an integral role in identifying people-first opportunities that will drive the pace and scale of global progress through scientific knowledge and emerging technologies.