Our Team
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Madison Strader Arcangeli
Founder and Managing Partner
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Debra Wada
Strategic Advisor
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Katy Nazaretova
Director of National Security and Technology Policy
Madison Arcangeli
Madison is the founder and Managing Partner at Forza DC, LLC. She focuses on developing policy solutions and advocacy strategies for clients within the private and non-profit sectors involved in defense, foreign affairs, and intelligence. She has also done work with philanthropic clients in the health and economic sectors, as well as non-profits focused on LGBT policy matters.
From 2013 to 2018, Madison served as the most senior Legislative Assistant for Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) when he was Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC). She supported his work on the HASC, assisting in the advancement of legislation related to military personnel, readiness, and installation issues in addition to managing a large and diverse domestic policy portfolio. Upon leaving the Hill, Madison trained as a Special Agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. She returned to DC to pursue her passion for sound and impactful public policy. Madison has honed her ability to develop and execute effective legislative strategies while working at two boutique multi-client government affairs firms, most recently at Sixkiller Consulting. She is a graduate of the University of Washington, where she focused on international security, foreign policy, and social implications of the law and criminal justice system.
Hon. Debra Wada
Debra currently serves as Strategic Advisor at Forza DC, LLC where she provides strategic advice for corporations and organizations seeking to engage with Congress and the Department of Defense. Since 2017, Debra has been an appointed Commissioner on the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service Commission, which was formed to review the Selective Service System and develop recommendations to improve the awareness, aspiration, and access to military, national and public service.
From 2014 to 2017, Debra served as the Assistant Secretary of Manpower and Reserves Affairs for the United States Army. As the Assistant Secretary, she effectively managed Army military, civilian and contractor personnel, training and readiness policies, including health care services, for over 1.2 million soldiers and Army civilians. She oversaw morale, welfare and recreation programs that supported over two million Army dependents. Prior to her appointment by President Obama, Debra spent over 25 years in Congress, including over a decade of experience on the House Armed Services Committee where she served as Deputy Staff Director, Lead Military Personnel Staff, and Professional Staff Member. Debra graduated from Drake University with a B.A. in Economics and Political Science.
Katy Nazaretova
Katy joined Forza DC, LLC in December 2021 as Director of National Security and Technology Policy. From 2015 to 2021, Katy served as the Military Legislative Assistant for Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
While working for Rep. Larsen, a leader in technology policy on HASC, Katy helped shepherd several key pieces of original legislation through the annual National Defense authorization Act and conducted oversight of their implementation within the Department of Defense (DoD). Katy also served as Rep. Larsen's staff lead on the Congressional Electromagnetic Warfare Working Group, which works to educate Members and staff on why Electromagnetic Warfare is important to ensuring effective deterrence and increased resilience within the DoD.
Katy speaks English, Russian and Italian fluently and has a professional proficiency in French. She was also a Public Policy Fellow at the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center in 2019. Katy has a Bachelor’s in Law, Societies and Justice from the University of Washington and a Master’s in Italian Studies from Georgetown University.