The America First Policy Institute announced changes to its leadership team Thursday to advance its mission after founders Brooke Rollins and Linda McMahon were tapped for Cabinet positions in the Trump administration.
Greg Sindelar, chief executive officer of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, was appointed as the new interim president and chief executive officer of AFPI, a policy organization launched in 2021 by Rollins, McMahon, and Larry Kudlow “to advance policies that put the American people first,” according to its website.
President Donald Trump picked Rollins to lead the Department of Agriculture and McMahon to oversee the Department of Education. Kudlow continues to serve on AFPI’s board in addition to hosting his Fox Business show.
“These appointments reflect our commitment to securing the future of our nation,” Sindelar said in a press release. “We’re continuing our momentum and embracing the opportunities ahead. I’m honored to lead AFPI as we advance policies that ensure America thrives for generations to come.”
In his nearly 18 years at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Sindelar served as director of operations, chief operating officer, and executive director before becoming CEO in 2021. He played key roles in the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s opening of a Washington, D.C., office and the development of the organization’s Austin headquarters.
At the Republican National Convention in July, Sindelar spoke with The Daily Signal about bringing Texas values to other states and the nation’s capital.
“We’ve been lucky in Texas. We have great political leadership. The culture and the values there have really helped make the state what it is,” Sindelar said. “What we want to do is export that to other states. We’re active in a couple dozen states. We are active even in D.C., usually working with organizations like Heritage.”
He added: “My perspective is if California wants to go ruin itself, well that’s kind of up to them. But let’s let Texas have the roadway to go do the right thing. We’ve had a lot of success doing that. We are not in it for any notoriety or credit, but we want to help states be as prosperous as Texas.”
Sindelar succeeded The Heritage Foundation’s current president, Kevin Roberts, as chief executive of the Texas Public Policy Foundation in 2021.
Roberts wrote in a congratulatory post on X, “Under Greg’s leadership, AFPI will remain a formidable force, ensuring that America First doesn’t just endure—it shapes the next century, restoring self-governance and securing the future of this great nation.”
Roberts’ X post includes a screenshot of an Axios report about AFPI’s “100-year plan” to promote Trump’s agenda after he leaves office.
According to the report, “the group is scaling up as an incubator for the America First movement beyond Jan. 20, 2029—promising to proselytize its policies for the next century.”
AFPI named other key appointees to leadership roles in its announcement:
- David Bernhardt, former U.S. secretary of the interior, is executive vice president, focusing on litigation and research. He will lead AFPI’s Center for American Freedom.
- Chad Wolf, former acting secretary of homeland security, is serving as executive vice president and chief strategy officer, overseeing policy development and government affairs.
- Jessica Hart Steinmann, a former senior Justice Department official, is AFPI’s executive general counsel, responsible for litigation, risk management, and compliance.
- Ashley Hayek, a veteran political strategist, is taking on the role of executive vice president, leading policy campaigns, state policy efforts, and grassroots engagement.
- Martin Gillespie, previously AFPI’s chief development officer, will now serve as executive vice president, overseeing development, communications, marketing, and events.
- Alexandra Caro Campana, formerly director of AFPI’s Center for 1776, is the new chief operating officer.
- John Rogers, executive director of America First Works, brings political experience from his tenure at the National Republican Congressional Committee.
- Erika Donalds, an education reform advocate and wife of Rep. Byron Donalds, is leading the Center for Education Opportunity and the AFPI’s Florida chapter.
- Robert Wilkie, former secretary of veterans affairs during Trump’s first term, is co-chairing AFPI’s Center for American Security, offering expertise in defense and veteran affairs.
- Mike Garcia, former U.S. congressman and Navy officer, will lead AFPI’s California’s chapter.
With this expanded leadership team, AFPI aims to continue to “build on the strong foundation laid out by its original team,” the foundation’s press release said.
