Knudsen Industrial Strategy Fellowship
William Knudsen was an engineer and auto executive who who helped convert the American economy into a wartime production powerhouse during World War II. Commissioned directly as a Lieutenant General, he led the largest industrial mobilization in history—transforming American factories into the Arsenal of Democracy. Today, the U.S. once again needs technically skilled builders to engage with policy and help reconstruct the nation’s industrial base.
The William Knudsen Fellowship aims to train the next generation of industrialists navigate the policymaking ecosystem in Washington, D.C. Fellows will participate in:
Seminar sessions with leading industrial policy practioners
Topical readings on the history, structure, and levers of U.S. industrial policy
Publishing Policy Memos on various industrial policy topics
In-person trip to Washington D.C.
Schedule:
Duration: 10 weeks, remote, from October 6 to December 8
Time commitment: ~1 hour/week of live Zoom sessions, ~5 hours/week of independent reading or writing
Application deadline: Friday, September 26
Eligibility:
We are seeking technical engineers and investors passionate about U.S. industrial renewal. You are eligible if:
You currently work in a technical role at a startup, established company, or investment firm focused on manufacturing, industrials, deep tech, energy, or related fields
If you are unsure if you're eligible, please apply through the form below anyways!
Endorsements:
“A rare opportunity to learn from some of the most exceptional people in DC - a unique combination of technical depth, political know-how, and unmatched networks in the industrial policy ecosystem”
Kelvin Yu, CEO of Substrate // Fellow, Foundation for American Innovation
“American industrial policy is undergoing a once-in-a-generation revolution. The Knudsen Fellowship offers ambitious early career leaders a direct path into the heart of this watershed debate.”
Danny Crichton, Partner, Lux Capital // Fellow, Manhattan Institute
“Understanding how to build the Freedom’s Forge equivalent for the digital age is one of the most important American imperatives of the next decade. That effort must include designing and implementing a forward-looking national industrial policy—one that recognizes the strategic value of a hardware-enabled, software-centric future. The Knudsen Fellowship will play a vital role in bringing together the right people—the kind of talent essential to accelerating this crucial national undertaking.”
Lt Gen John (Jack) N.T. Shanahan (USAF, Ret.), Inaugural Director, DoD Joint AI Center (JAIC)
“The Knudsen Fellowship is the only crash course for young technical staff who want to understand the policy tools that can make or break American innovation.”
Daniel Bring, Managing Editor, American Affairs
