Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – Washington, D.C. – The American Innovation Project (AIP) is thrilled to announce the selection of two inaugural AIP Policy Innovation Fellows, Jacob Smagula and Hugo Swangstu, and to share that Representatives Shomari Figures and Ritchie Torres will welcome the AIP Fellows to their respective teams.

• Jacob Smagula is a 2026 graduate studying government at Claremont McKenna College from Brookline, MA. Smagula has served as an intern for Representative Jake Auchincloss and Senator Angus King; worked on the government affairs team at MARA, a publicly traded Bitcoin mining company; and is currently interning on the policy team at the DeFi Education Fund. Smagula's writing has appeared in The Boston Globe and The Washington Monthly. As an AIP Fellow, Smagula will serve in the Washington, D.C. office of Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15).
• Hugo Swangstu is a 2025 graduate of the University of Washington, where he completed a degree in Political Science with a focus on International Security. Swangstu previously interned for Representative Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, and for Representative Ritchie Torres. As an AIP Fellow, Swangstu will serve in the Washington, D.C. office of Representative Shomari Figures (D-AL-02).

"The next generation of policymakers must understand the technologies reshaping our economy, national security, and daily lives. Jacob's placement in our office through the AIP Policy Innovation Fellowship reflects our commitment to building that capacity from the ground up. The Bronx deserves staff who are fluent in the technologies of the future, and I am proud to welcome Jacob to our team," said Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15).

"As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, it's essential that Members of Congress are informed and prepared to craft sound tech policy," said Representative Shomari C. Figures (D-AL-02). "I look forward to having Hugo in our office and his expertise with tech policy will be a great asset to our office's legislative team."

PROGRAM DETAILS 

The AIP Policy Innovation Fellowship’s two-part program is designed to equip the next generation of congressional staff with hands-on education about emerging technologies and provide first-hand experience on the Hill. In part one, AIP Fellows complete a multi-week virtual curriculum focused on emerging technologies like crypto and decentralized AI. In part two, AIP Fellows are placed in Congressional offices in Washington D.C; in 2026, AIP Fellows will join the offices of Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15) and Representative Shomari Figures (D-AL-02). 

"Policymakers are making decisions today that will shape America's technological leadership for years to come, and they benefit from having staff in their offices  who are  familiar with emerging technologies: how they work today, how they are evolving, potential policy implications, and who is building them,” said Allie Page, Executive Director of American Innovation Project. “We are so excited to welcome our first AIP Fellows, Hugo and Jacob, as are exactly the kind of sharp, tech-fluent emerging leaders the AIP Policy Innovation Fellowship program was built to support. We cannot wait to see the impact they make on the Hill."

AIP Policy Innovation Fellowship’s new program is designed to equip tomorrow's congressional staff with hands-on education about emerging technologies and their policy implications. You can read more about the AIP Fellowship here: https://www.americaninnovationproject.org/post/aip-launches-fellowship-to-build-next-generation-of-tech-fluent-congressional-staff 

For more information about AIP, visit www.americaninnovationproject.org.