Amber Hecht
Amber Hecht serves as Lewis-Burke’s Chief Administration Officer, where she leads the firm’s administrative operations, human capital strategy, and organizational infrastructure to support effective business operations and long-term growth. She oversees internal operations, administrative programs, employee benefits, business operations and contributes to a strong workplace culture.
Before joining Lewis-Burke, Amber served more than 26 years in the United States Marine Corps as a logistician and senior leader overseeing supervisory management, operational administration, budgeting, and organizational readiness. Throughout her military career, she led complex operational and accountability programs, managed equipment readiness and internal controls, conducted data analysis and commander readiness briefings, and developed standard operating procedures and interagency support agreements. She also served as a formal logistics instructor at the formal school and a faculty adjunct at Marine Corps University. Her assignments included service in Cuba, Iraq, Norway, Kuwait, Bahrain, North Carolina, and Virginia in support of U.S. defense and humanitarian operations. Amber additionally served as a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
Following her retirement from military service, Amber served as Logistics Management Officer for the Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Group (MCCOG) at Marine Corps Base Quantico, where she established and implemented a program recognized by the Headquarters Marine Corps Inspection Team with a formal letter of recognition.
Issue Expertise: Organizational leadership, policy development, business and operations management, administrative strategy, human resource management, and process improvement.
Vital Statistics: Amber was born in Staten Island, New York. Amber relocated with her family to Ocala, Florida before entering the Marine Corps. Amber earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, cum laude, from Averett University and a Master of Science in Human Resources from Liberty University. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Liberty University pursuing a Doctorate in Leadership and Communication. Her military awards include the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, six Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and numerous letters of recognition and commendation. Outside of work, Amber enjoys running, sewing and crafting, hosting friends, spending time with her daughters, and attending live music events throughout the DMV region.
Hunter Gronlund
Hunter Gronlund leads Lewis-Burke’s internal operations by overseeing the firm’s technology, security, strategy, and planning, in addition to providing client management support. His responsibilities include project management, managing vendor relationships, conducting research, advising the Chief Strategy and Business Officer, facilitating on-boarding of new clients, and ensuring the successful execution of client events.
Additional Experience: Before joining Lewis-Burke, Hunter worked as a Computer Technician for ALEX Alternative Experts, where he managed the relocation of government technology and telecommunications equipment for the Department Of Energy (DOE), Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), and the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate, among others.
Hunter also worked as a military consultant and advisor, testing cutting-edge military technologies in simulated combat environments, providing in-depth, real-time feedback to project and program managers for the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and other major defense agencies.
Vital Statistics: Hunter graduated from West Virginia University (WVU) with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. He served as the Operations Officer of his ROTC Battalion and was a member of WVU’s Model United Nations team. He was awarded Best Position Paper in the International Telecommunications Union while representing Japan in one of the largest Model U.N. events held at the collegiate level.
Hunter is currently serving as the Commander of the 922nd Engineer Detachment in the West Virginia Army National Guard. He served five years as an enlisted soldier and was commissioned as an officer in 2018. Some of Hunter’s hobbies included traveling, hiking, and cooking.
Reed Skaggs, Ph.D.
Dr. Reed Skaggs serves as Chief Strategy and Business Operations Officer at Lewis-Burke Associates, where he integrates deep technical expertise with executive leadership to translate research and business priorities into strategic outcomes.
With more than 25+ years at the intersection of national security science and federal budget execution including senior roles at the Army Research Laboratory, as Deputy Assistant Secretary-level leadership within Army Research & Technology, and at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Reed has built and managed S&T portfolios spanning basic research to advanced development.
Reed serves Lewis-Burke’s national security team by creating defense R&D portfolio intelligence that align research domains with acquisition pathways, appropriations mechanics, and strategic modernization priorities. Reed’s focus is to help institutions compete, scale, and contribute to national Security S&T. Reed also serves as the Chaiman of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Science, Engineering and Technology division.
For Lewis-Burke he has orchestrated firm growth, expanded client portfolios across defense and research sectors, and secured millions in federal R&D funding through strategic advocacy, legislative language development, and portfolio positioning. His work bridges technical literacy across emerging technologies with high-level policy and acquisition strategy.
Reed earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from The George Washington University and his B.S. in Chemistry, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Hampden-Sydney College. A native of southern Virginia, he resides Alexandria with his wife, Jennifer, where outside of work he can be found on the golf course or cheering on the Ravens and Nationals.