Cory Simpson

We live in a representative democracy—where the people in Washington work for you. While the inner workings of D.C. can feel distant, complex, even outdated, they must be understood because they shape how America safeguards its interests and advances our way of life.

The first test of a leader is presence. People may not remember the exact words you use, but they remember how your presence made them feel—steady, seen, or supported. That signal sets the tone in every setting, from the workplace to the family table. I’ve felt it in courtrooms, combat zones, and countless rooms where steadiness mattered most. In those moments, leadership was presence—grounded in preparation, steadied under pressure, and sharpened by focus, all sustained through balance.

The “quantum-age” refers to a near-future moment when quantum computers begin to reshape fields, from drug discovery and logistics to national defense and cryptography. Unlike classical computers, which solve problems step by step—like trying every key on a lock one at a time—quantum systems can evaluate many possibilities simultaneously.