A’ndre Gonawela is an Associate with The Asia Group’s Research and Analytics Team. In addition to contributing to TAG’s newswire, The Daily Asia, A’ndre authors Instant Insight commentaries, long-form reports, and other cutting-edge analytical products on political risk that contribute to thought leadership and help clients understand and navigate emerging economic and diplomatic trends across the Indo-Pacific.
Prior to joining TAG, A’ndre worked on defense innovation issues at BMNT, where he directly executed multiple portfolios across the U.S. Navy on behalf of NavalX, conducting market research and analysis on critical and emerging technologies. He also actively contributed to acquisition efforts in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, with a particular focus on contested logistics and the unmanned domain. A’ndre has had key analytical experience on South Asian politics, U.S. grand strategy, U.S.-China relations, national security strategy, global conflicts, environmental issues, and security topics in emerging technologies.
A’ndre was born in Sri Lanka, but grew up in San Diego, California. He received a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago in 2021, with a certificate in global conflict studies and an emphasis on emerging security threats. Prior to completing his master’s, A’ndre graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy from the University of Michigan in 2019, where he specialized in geopolitical strategy in South Asia. There, he conducted detailed research on the use of social media – especially Twitter/X – in Indian politics, spearheading several projects and publications covering the 2019 and 2014 Indian General Elections.
A’ndre hosts his own podcast, The Burn Bag, a program dedicated to weekly conversations around redefining national security through interviews with key experts, thinkers, and leaders across the foreign policy sphere. On the podcast, A’ndre covers traditional security topics ranging from great power competition and counterterrorism to emerging threats such as climate migration and the political impact of social media.