Senator Tom Cotton — SASC + Intelligence Chair

**Tom Cotton** is the Conference Chair position ended January 2025 - now serves as ranking member or regular member, Ranking Member of Intelligence Committee (Democrats control Senate in 2025-2026), and member of Senate Armed Services Committee — triple leverage for defense and intelligence policy. Army veteran (Iraq, Afghanistan), Harvard/Harvard Law. Arkansas. Known as one of the Senate's most hawkish voices on China, Iran, and defense spending.