Team
Danny E. Sebright
Lucy Rojansky
Christopher DaVault
Brian Principato
Danny E. Sebright
President, U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council
Danny E. Sebright was appointed in June 2008 to the position of President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, the leading advocate for building commercial relationships and expanding business opportunities between the two countries.
Since 2002, Mr. Sebright held the position of Vice President at The Cohen Group, an international strategic consulting firm led by former Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen. Mr. Sebright was responsible for new business development activities, client management, and building the firm's Middle East and India practice groups. Mr. Sebright will continue to be affiliated with The Cohen Group as a Counselor.
Previously, Mr. Sebright served as the Defense Department's Director of the Policy Executive Secretariat for the global war on terrorism from 2001-2002, leading a team responsible for tracking US and coalition actions related to the war on terrorism. During this time, he also participated in oversight of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan and Operation NOBLE EAGLE, the defense of the U.S. homeland. In this capacity, he was awarded the Department of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award for his service to his country.
Mr. Sebright also served in the Office of the Under Secretary for Policy at DoD from 1995-2001, representing Department of Defense positions with other executive-branch policy offices. He conducted bilateral negotiations with foreign officials, including providing the Defense Department policy perspective on the Middle East Peace Process, regional arms sales, and counter-proliferation initiatives. Mr. Sebright cultivated extensive contacts with defense industry officials to coordinate and implement US foreign military sales to Israel and many other countries in the Middle East. Mr. Sebright received the Paul H. Nitze Award for Excellence in International Security Policy for his work on the Middle East Peace Process.
Mr. Sebright began his career in government in 1985 with the Defense Intelligence Agency, living and working extensively overseas in numerous countries in the Middle East, India, Asia, and Africa. Mr. Sebright is the recipient of various DIA and CIA exceptional service awards for his accomplishments.
Mr. Sebright was sponsored by the Defense Department to attend the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he completed a year-long Mid-Career Master's Degree in Public Administration in June of 2001. He earned his BA in International Affairs from the George Washington University in 1984 and completed the coursework for a Masters in National Security Policy in 1988. Mr. Sebright speaks conversational French and basic German, Russian, Chinese, and Hebrew.
Mr. Sebright resides in Washington, DC where he is active in local community, arts, and church organizations. Mr. Sebright is a member of the Dean's Alumni Leadership Council at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, of the Luther Place Memorial Church, and of the Board of Directors of the Washington Ballet.
Lucy Rojansky
Vice President, U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council
Lucy Rojansky assumed the role of Vice President in May of 2010. In this capacity she is responsible for managing day to day operations at the Council and oversees member services, recruitment and retention.
Previously, Lucy served as Director of Membership Affairs at the U.S.-Russia Business Council in Washington, D.C., where she was responsible for member services and new member recruitment, as well as in-depth event planning and management.
Lucy began her career as an analyst at Borealis Ventures, an early stage venture capital fund in Hanover, N.H., focused on application software, medical device and internet technologies.
A graduate of Duke University, Lucy holds her Master's degree in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies from Stanford University. She spent a year studying at Pembroke College, Oxford University, and has lived and traveled extensively overseas.
Lucy is fluent in Russian and conversant in French. She and her husband reside in Southwest Washington, D.C.
Christopher DaVault
Program Director, U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council
Christopher DaVault serves as Program Director at the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council. He joined the team in August 2008, as a recent graduate from the Center for Public Administration and Policy at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he received a Masters of Public Administration. Prior to completing his Master's, Christopher worked with the Department of Defense Education Activity at Ramstein Air Force Base, in Germany, to help develop performance measures and enhanced accreditation processes.
In 2006, Christopher served in the office of Virginia Congressman Bob Goodlatte, where he worked closely with the Congressman’s leadership team to communicate complex policy information to constituents.
Christopher was born in San Bernardino, California and has spent 11 years living in Asia and Europe. While living in Europe, Christopher presented a research project on Vehicle Security Surveillance in Brussels, in the wake of the September 11th tragedy.
Christopher received a BA in Political Science from Wheeling Jesuit University, is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, and was named the Sigonella High School Athlete of the Year in 2001 and 2002.
Brian Principato
Associate Program Director, U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council
Brian Principato serves as an Associate Program Director for the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council and joined the team in March, 2010.
Brian graduated in May 2009 from the College of Communications Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising. Brian specialized in copywriting and creative concepting culminating in a successful capstone project; a rebranding campaign for an environmentally-friendly terrazzo flooring and countertop client based in Texas.
In July of 2009, Brian went to work for the Middle East/Africa subsidiary of JCDecaux, a global out-of-home advertising agency, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Brian worked in the Marketing Communications Department; writing copy for and developing the rebranding of the media offers for Dubai and Sharjah International Airports, producing marketing and sales proposals for the commercial team, and composing trade show collateral.
Brian is active with the Michigan State Alumni Club in Washington, D.C., Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, and the Senate Softball League. Brian is a native of Alexandria, VA and currently lives in Arlington.
