Amber Cassady

Amber leads Lewis-Burke’s national security practice and spearheads both client-specific and firm-wide efforts in defense appropriations, defense authorization, and engagement with the Department of Defense (DOD) and Military Services.  Amber is especially involved in the national security R&D ecosystem related to manufacturing, microelectronics, and emerging technologies. She also leads the firm’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) portfolio, most recently keeping a pulse on “CHIPS”-specific opportunities and funding from the landmark CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.  Amber is an active member of the Coalition for National Security Research (CNSR), which advocates for basic and applied research funding on behalf of many Lewis-Burke research universities and organizations. 

Issue Areas: Defense, national security, manufacturing, microelectronics, emerging technology, defense health, standards and technology.

Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Amber worked as a Research Assistant at the Bertelsmann Foundation, a transatlantic think tank where she covered European Union-U.S. policies in artificial intelligence, technology, manufacturing, and the future of work. Amber also worked as an Education Outreach Assistant at the Center for European Studies, at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. She interned with the Department of State in politics and economics section at the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal.  

Vital Statistics: Amber earned a B.A. in Global Studies and Contemporary European Studies from the University of North Carolina (Go Heels!). She earned a M.A. in Political Science at both UNC and Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, during which she was awarded two Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) scholarships by the U.S. Department of Education, and she now serves on UNC’s Transatlantic Masters Board. Amber revels in being one of the firm’s resident foodies and can be spotted most evenings at D.C. restaurants with her husband and friends.