ABOUT US
Alex Wagner
Founder & Principal
-
With over 25 years of experience navigating the public, private, and non-profit sectors in Washington, D.C., Alex has led strategic change, advised top corporations and advocacy organizations, and served in senior government roles addressing national security and workforce challenges. Alex’s expertise spans startups, think tanks, consulting firms, and higher education, making him a trusted leader in navigating complex organizational and translating policy into results.
-
Alex was most recently the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower & Reserve Affairs. Nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he was responsible for the entire human capital enterprise of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, including recruiting and retention, talent management, compensation, health care and dependent care, discipline, oversight of the U.S. Air Force Academy and Air Force ROTC detachments, and reserve component affairs impacting nearly 700,000 Airmen, Guardians, and civilians across the Department of the Air Force.
Previously, as Vice President at the Aerospace Industries Association, he led efforts on behalf of America’s most prominent aerospace and defense companies focused on talent development, including specific programs to enhance workforce diversity, expand STEM education access, and protect employees’ health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the Obama administration, he served as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Army and in previous appointments in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, he helped shape the development and implementation of DoD policies where the law is either unclear or undefined.
Alex has also worked in various capacities on six U.S. presidential campaigns, including as the principal staffer responsible for engaging Obama for America's 150-member National LGBT Steering and Policy committee in 2008. Prior to law school, Alex was a reporter and policy analyst for the Arms Control Association in Washington, D.C.
-
Alex graduated from Georgetown Law with a J.D. (cum laude) and has dual B.A. in Political Science (with honors) and History from Brown University.
-
Alex regularly serves as a panelist and moderator at public conferences, and his analysis and commentary have been featured in The Washington Post, USA Today, MSNBC, ABC News, Defense One, Defense News, Breaking Defense, Air and Space Forces Magazine, and National Public Radio among others.
What we do
Pacer Forge Strategies helps organizations operating at the intersection of technology, security, and public policy navigate complex transformations.
Our team brings decades of senior leadership experience from government, industry, and advocacy to develop practical, effective solutions.
We work to align the interests of different stakeholders and create meaningful change for our clients. We help organizations with everything from talent strategy to public affairs, providing the tools needed to lead and adapt as policy landscapes rapidly evolve. Our approach helps clients build and maintain trust with both their customers and employees, while successfully navigating potential political challenges.
When success really matters, your company and brand need more than another training seminar—they need the kind of transformative experience that the military has refined through decades of preparing people for high-stakes situations.
You need Pacer Forge
What is pacer forge?
The Story of Our Name
Our name comes from the Air Force's PACER FORGE experience—the make-or-break 36-hour crucible challenge at the end of basic military training. It stands for "Primary Agile Combat Employment Response Force-Generating Operational Readiness through Graduated Exercises," but what it really does is transform citizens into Airmen and Guardians. This tough, realistic test is where new trainees prove they can work in small teams, solve problems on their own, and adapt when things get difficult.
What This Means For You
The Air Force created PACER FORGE because they realized something important: today's world doesn't allow for constant supervision and perfect communication. That means thinking clearly in degraded environments, leveraging talent with constrained resources, and making good decisions without someone looking over your shoulder. We believe your teams need the same capabilities.