As we begin 2026, I wish to convey my sincere gratitude for your generous support and confidence throughout the preceding year. We are indeed privileged. I would like to take this opportunity to reflect upon our fundamental mission and to refocus as we transition into the new year.
When the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure was founded, the sequencing of those words was intentional. Innovation was given precedence because it was regarded as essential to developing sustainable solutions to the nation’s infrastructure challenges through ongoing advancements in our approaches to thinking, planning, governance, and investment. This goal was deliberate and not directed towards any project, funding mechanism, or political era.
Over time, the nation confronted aging infrastructure. For example, airports, roads, and bridges were cramped, obsolete, or even downright dangerous. Energy systems were aging, no longer built for today’s purposes, and we began to see vulnerabilities across supply chains, deficiencies in broadband connectivity, challenges associated with water resilience, and population growth in ecologically sensitive areas. As an organization, we have become deeply engaged in infrastructure development. This effort remains of paramount importance. As we progress into this new chapter, it is appropriate to explicitly define our identity and objectives.
That said, Aii is not merely concerned with “innovative infrastructure.” We champion innovation first, and we also believe modern infrastructure helps underpin our economy.
This focus on innovation as our guiding principle shapes everything we do. In other words, innovation is fundamentally the rationale behind our actions. It does not necessarily entail adopting the latest technological advancements or futuristic technologies. Rather, innovation involves adopting a different perspective and re-evaluating existing viewpoints.
Today, infrastructure extends beyond mere concrete and steel. It encompasses transportation networks, energy systems, water and wastewater management, pipelines, ports, and electric transmission. Social infrastructure, comprising schools, hospitals, public buildings, and housing, also plays a crucial role. Furthermore, digital infrastructure includes broadband telecom, data centers, cloud computing capacity, cybersecurity measures, and the connectivity that underpins contemporary life. Access to all of which has become increasingly vital, as natural and man-made events can cause significant damage to the technologies and physical infrastructure that make daily life possible.
Across all these domains, the common constraint is not a lack of ideas. It is how we govern complexity, align incentives, manage risk, and translate innovation into durable, scalable outcomes. This is the space Aii is meant to occupy.
We do not claim to have all the answers, and one of our most important tools as a trusted entity is to serve as a convener for all, contributing our experience, credibility, and a readiness to address difficult questions without ideological bias. Our governing board and advisory council embody this commitment, comprising Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and individuals who reject political labels entirely. This diversity of politics and of thought is not merely symbolic; it is fundamental to our operational approach.
Aii maintains an intentionally nonpartisan and apolitical stance. Our focus is on implementing effective, scalable, and sustainable solutions. Regardless of whether policy discussions occur on Capitol Hill, at state capitals, within mayors’ offices, or on Main Street, our foremost concern is to identify the most strategic policy or governance approach that aligns with factual data, constraints, and the long-term interests of the community.
Over the past 12 years, this methodology has gained the confidence of the public, as well as that of federal agencies, legislative committees, state and local leaders, private-sector innovators, and civic institutions. We shall preserve this trust by refraining from political noise and by relying on analysis, evidence, and practical experience.
Starting this year, I will utilize this space as a regular platform to communicate our perspectives on these issues, identify emerging challenges and opportunities, and outline how Aii plans to contribute. My intention is not to impose conclusions but to encourage active participation. Innovation flourishes in open environments rather than in enclosed settings, and speaking into an echo chamber is, well, not good for anyone.
If you are a policymaker, practitioner, investor, technologist, or community leader dedicated to enhancing how innovation can improve infrastructure, we invite you to collaborate with us. Engage with us, share your insights, invest in us, and partake in discussions that will influence future developments. Your involvement is crucial to furthering our mission.
2026 will be a year of renewed focus for Aii. A return to first principles and an open invitation to those who believe that the next decade demands clearer thinking, better governance, and less political theater.
I look forward to the conversation.
Brigham A. McCown
Chairman & CEO
Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure