AFPI Announces Continued Expansion in the States

Washington, DC – Today, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) announced plans to expand its state policy team after the launch of America First chapters in five states (Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, and Pennsylvania). This expansion will include the addition of a Chief State Affairs Officer to the AFPI Senior Staff along with support staff to assist with coordinating state policy efforts across the country.

“From the very first whiteboard session of what would become the America First Policy Institute in late 2020, the vision of building a 100-year battleship for freedom based on the game-changing America First Agenda from the first Trump administration always included a significant state-based effort. Truly, it is the states that our Founding Fathers envisioned being the defenders of liberty and the laboratories of democracy,” said Brooke Rollins, Founder, President and CEO of the America First Policy Institute. “Saving our country will only happen when our citizenry is fully equipped with an agenda for all Americans that is focused on freedom, liberty, and founded on self-governance.”

To support this expanded state policy work, Rachel Oglesby, Director of AFPI’s Center for the American Worker, has been promoted to the Chief State Affairs Officer and will lead the state policy priorities in coordination with the 5 state chapters, AFPI Governors’ Council, and Attorney General Council.

“Rachel has spent years developing and advocating conservative policies that work at the state level, including for America First leader, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem,” Chad Wolf, Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer at AFPI. “Our new expanded state staff, under Rachel’s direction, along with AFPI’s state chapters, Governors’ Council, and Attorneys General Council will help state leaders make lasting change in their states by putting America First.”

Oglesby joined AFPI in 2023. She previously worked as chief of policy and deputy chief of staff for Governor Kristi Noem in South Dakota. Prior to working for Governor Noem, she worked at the U.S. Travel Association as the manager of industry communications. Oglesby holds a master’s degree in public policy from George Mason University and earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Wake Forest University.