Naomi Song grew up in Seoul, South Korea, before moving to the United States with her family. She spent her early years in the Boston area and later relocated to Los Angeles, where she continued her education and joined the U.S. Army Reserve, a decision she considers one of the most impactful of her life. Beyond the discipline and physical demands, what stayed with her most was the experience of serving alongside individuals from diverse backgrounds united by a shared mission. In that environment, trust and responsibility outweighed differences, strengthening her sense of purpose and deepening her commitment to the country she had chosen.
With renewed focus, Naomi returned to her studies at UCLA, where she pursued anthropology along with public policy and political science. During her final semester, she joined Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Los Angeles office and continued there after graduating. In this role, she worked closely with community leaders and local officials, gaining firsthand insight into how federal offices collaborate with state and local partners and how policy is translated into practice.
Naomi later moved to Washington, D.C., to serve as a Special Advisor at the U.S. Department of Commerce. She recently completed a Master of Arts in Global Policy at Johns Hopkins University’s SAIS, where she also worked as a research assistant.
For Naomi, the Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellowship has been a bridge between her years of public service and her next chapter — one she is actively shaping at the intersection of policy, strategy, and institutional leadership.
