The AI Rapid Response Fellowship is a one-year, full-time placement programme by Horizon Institute for Public Service for technical and policy professionals who can support U.S. executive branch offices on AI security-related issues. Fellows will work in federal host offices, with placements expected to begin as soon as possible. The application deadline is July 22.
Programme Snapshot
Programme: AI Rapid Response Fellowship
Category: Fellowship
Organizer: Horizon Institute for Public Service
Country: United States
Location and Format: Full-time federal host office placement; nearly all roles will be Washington, DC-based
Duration: Initial one-year term
Application Deadline: July 22
Funding Status: Fully funded placement; salaries range from $170K–$250K+
Eligible Applicants: U.S. citizens with relevant technical or policy experience in AI security-related fields
About the AI Rapid Response Fellowship
The AI Rapid Response Fellowship is designed to help the federal government respond to fast-moving AI security challenges. Horizon is recruiting a specialized cohort of technical and policy talent to work full-time at executive branch offices on issues related to AI security.
The programme is different from Horizon’s regular fellowship because it is aimed at people with relevant prior experience who can contribute in federal offices from day one. Candidates with previous government experience are encouraged to apply.
Fellowship Purpose and Focus
Fellows may support host offices on major AI security questions facing the federal government. The exact portfolio depends on the office, but the official page lists several possible focus areas.
• Government adoption of AI for defense, intelligence, and national security missions
• Protection of critical infrastructure
• Assessment of current AI model capabilities
• Frontier AI infrastructure and supply chain security
• AI R&D priorities linked to evaluation, robustness, control, and security
• Secure AI infrastructure for government use
• Tracking foreign AI capabilities and related security or economic implications
Fellowship Tracks
The AI Rapid Response Fellowship has two tracks. Applicants can apply for one track or indicate interest in both.
• Fellow track: For candidates with technical or policy expertise relevant to AI security, typically with 2–6+ years of full-time relevant experience.
• Senior Fellow track: For candidates with substantial prior experience, typically 10–15+ years in relevant technical, policy, or leadership roles.
Fellow track salaries range from $170,000 to $200,000+, plus an additional stipend for benefits. Senior Fellow compensation starts at $250,000, plus an additional stipend for benefits, depending on the seniority of the placement.
What Fellows Receive
The official page describes the fellowship as a fully funded placement. Fellows also receive professional and career support connected to AI policy and security work.
✓ Full-time federal host office placement
✓ Salary range from $170K–$250K+
✓ Additional stipend for benefits
✓ Connections to leading experts across AI policy and security
✓ Support in building relevant expertise before placement
✓ Optional participation in the wider Horizon community
✓ Continued access to career support and the Horizon network
✓ Professional development budget for conferences, training, and related resources
✓ Relocation stipend and support for candidates moving to the Washington, DC area
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Who Can Apply?
Horizon is looking for technically literate, public service-oriented candidates with the judgment, communication skills, and subject-matter expertise needed to be effective in a federal policy office.
Core qualifications include:
• Expertise relevant to AI security
• Relevant work experience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• U.S. citizenship
• Active or prior security clearance is preferred, but not required
Relevant expertise may include national security policy, cybersecurity, AI/ML, critical infrastructure protection, biosecurity, U.S.-China policy, intelligence analysis, AI evaluations, supply chain security, or adjacent technical and policy fields. Horizon also states that expertise developed through self-study may be relevant.
Location and Placement Details
Fellows are placed full-time at a federal host office for an initial one-year term. Renewals may be possible depending on funding and host office interest.
Nearly all roles will be based in Washington, DC. However, a small number may be performed remotely or from another city where the host agency maintains an office, such as San Francisco.
Application and Selection Process
The official page outlines a fast-turnaround application and matching process.
• The application deadline is July 22.
• Advancing applicants will be assessed through interviews, a short work test, and reference checks.
• Initial offers are expected to go to finalists by early-mid September.
• Finalists are expected to respond within a week.
• Horizon will introduce selected finalists to prospective federal host offices.
• Start dates are determined with the fellow and host office and depend on administrative requirements.
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Application Deadline
The application deadline for the AI Rapid Response Fellowship is July 22. Applicants should review the official programme page and submit their application through the official application form.
Apply Here
Submit your application through the official application link below.
