William Cano 

CHCI International Affairs Postgraduate Fellow  

Presented by Open Society 

Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina 

School: American University 

Degree: Master of Arts in International Affairs, Global Governance, Politics, and Security 

Placement: House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party

William Cano (he/him) was born in Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico, and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. He’s a formerly undocumented immigrant and Army veteran who built his path on integrity, selfless service, and duty. That foundation shapes how he approaches work in foreign policy and national security.  

He holds a Master of Arts in International Affairs from American University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the University of Georgia. At American, he served as Vice President of the Association of Latino Career Enhancement. His graduate research focused on global AI governance, with an emphasis on strategic competition and multilateral coordination.  

He has worked across national security and foreign policy. He began building experience as an intern at the American Foreign Policy Council, followed by roles with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. At the Defense Innovation Unit, he supported the autonomous systems portfolio and worked on efforts to strengthen U.S. defense partnerships through emerging technologies. At Pallas Advisors, he advised public and private sector clients on national security and tech strategy. Most recently, he was a National Security Fellow at Business Executives for National Security, where he led projects on artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, and long-term geopolitical risk.  

As the CHCI’s International Affairs Postgraduate Fellow, he’s focused on strengthening his legislative experience, building subject-matter depth in national security and technology, and understanding how Congress sets strategic direction. He joined CHCI to grow as a Latino voice in international affairs and help ensure U.S. policy stays competitive, inclusive, and strategic about the challenges ahead. His long-term goal is to help shape a national security strategy that integrates advanced technologies, protects democratic institutions, and sustains U.S. leadership.