Director, Industrial Policy

Position Summary

The Director, Industrial Policy supports the Vice President for National Security Policy on all matters relating to DOD industrial policy and procurement, and represents AIA on these and related issues to AIA membership, outside organizations, the Department of Defense (DOD) and other executive branch agencies, and Congressional committees and member offices.

The Director, Industrial Policy engages with AIA staff, member companies, councils, and committees, and is responsible for monitoring, analyzing, proposing, and advocating policies concerning defense industrial policy and procurement-related practices, the implementation of relevant regulations and legislation and their implementation, and other related areas. 

Core Duties and Responsibilities

The Director, Industrial Policy reports directly to the Vice President for National Security Policy.  S/he maintains regular contact with government officials and representatives of the Department of Defense (primarily the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the military service Secretariats, and other defense agencies) and other Executive Branch agencies and offices.  S/he may accompany the Vice President for National Security Policy and other senior AIA leaders to meet with senior Administration officials, members of Congress and staff, AIA member company CEOs and other executives, and other senior individuals in and out of government.

The Director, Industrial Policy serves as AIA’s primary industrial policy resource and responds to inquiries from member companies, government officials, military personnel, the public, and the media.  These inquiries may range from general questions to highly technical requests requiring significant effort to assemble data and related background information.  S/he also may prepare Congressional testimony on association positions for AIA leaders.   

The Director, Industrial Policy may be called upon to present the Association’s views orally and in writing to government and industry officials and to the media; to represent the Association in coalitions that are formed to present a unified approach on national security policy issues of mutual interest; and to represent AIA positions as a spokesperson at conferences and seminars.  S/he will contribute articles and news items to AIA publications, highlighting issues and developments falling within the NSP division’s domain, and prepare summaries of such issues for use during AIA or outside meetings.

The Director, Industrial Policy will support the Vice President for National Security Policy by monitoring developments and initiatives within the national security community and the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) to ensure that AIA’s awareness and advocacy are integrated, comprehensive and consistent.  S/he will focus on the objectives driven by the National Defense Strategy’s emphasis on Great Power competition and innovation – such as supply chain security, assured access to materials and resources, and advanced technology (artificial intelligence, microelectronics, digital engineering, unmanned systems, hypersonics, etc.) – and will engage with non-traditional providers to broaden AIA’s membership and enhance our impact on policy.  S/he will further ensure that AIA’s engagement in the national security policy community is coordinated across AIA councils and committees (primarily the Defense Policy Council, Acquisition Policy Council, Contract Management Committee, Intellectual Property Committee, Cybersecurity Committee, and Washington Procurement Committee), and across other AIA divisions (primarily the International Affairs, Space, and Legislative Affairs divisions).

Additional related duties include:

• Maintaining liaison with trade associations, policy organizations, and academic institutions to improve AIA’s awareness of, and influence on, U.S. national security policy;
• Analyzing industry challenges and opportunities to prompt deliberations and actions;
• Synthesizing concepts and ideas coming from government contacts to provide insight into future defense and aerospace developments; 
• Building industry consensus among member companies on relevant and timely topics and issues, and serving as staff liaison to relevant internal and external groups;
• Organizing and executing periodic council and committee meetings, including developing the agenda, assembling background information and materials, arranging for speakers and other participants, ensuring that minutes are prepared, and managing associated expenses;  
• Assisting with the planning and execution of major association events, including Executive Committee and Washington Representatives meetings, semi-annual Board of Governors meetings, periodic meetings with senior government officials; and
• Other duties as assigned.