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.
Miriam Quintal
Miriam Quintal boasts seventeen years of advocacy and client success at Lewis-Burke, managing the federal relations portfolios for large academic institutions, scientific societies, industry, and other research organizations. As Division Leader for Issue Driven Organizations, she continues to work across the firm’s portfolio but is leading a new effort to enhance engagement, connections, and success with philanthropy, coalitions, associations, and other clients looking to engage on national issues and profile-raising activities. Previously she was the Managing Principal for the firm, overseeing the firm’s client engagement and issue practices. Miriam fiercely protects client priorities, leveraging her unique combination of scientific training with political insight.
Miriam is a prominent leader in National Science Foundation advocacy, co-chairing the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) and working closely with the higher education and research advocacy community to guide policy for and champion the Foundation. Her wealth of knowledge and federal research enterprise acumen provides value to all components of client interests: supporting executives and university leadership, shepherding research initiatives, and shaping policy across a range of issues. Major advocacy efforts have included successfully guiding large-scale science projects through the appropriations process, restoring funding for key programs proposed to be eliminated in the President’s budget request, establishing new agency funding for research infrastructure, and creating opportunities for clients to showcase research and leadership in Administration initiative areas.
Issue Expertise: Basic research (National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, Department of Energy Office of Science), STEM education, computing and computational science, math and physical sciences, engineering, and space and astronomy.
Additional Experience: Miriam has twice served as NSF lead for the Association of American Universities (AAU) Innovation Task Force. Before joining Lewis-Burke, Miriam gained policy experience as a Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow with the Board on Science Education at the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. At the Academies, she contributed to several projects, including a review of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s education programs and a study of gaming and simulations for science education.
Vital Statistics: Miriam developed her passion for politics while growing up in the DC region, before venturing north to get an undergraduate degree in chemistry with highest honors from Smith College and a Masters Degree in Organic Chemistry from Harvard University. She has been a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and a Fulbright Fellow. Miriam loves raising her son in DC alongside her wife. She is deeply engaged in her community, serving as a Founding Trustee and coordinator for Minyan Segulah, a local independent prayer community.
Kari McCarron
Kari McCarron is a trusted and highly valued expert in higher education, bringing decades of experience within the federal higher education and scientific research enterprise, having lead education and science advocacy for associations, worked as a government relations representative for a major research university, and served within federal agencies. Kari focuses on funding for and advocacy of student and institutional aid, education research, cultural agencies, and tech-based economic development. She also works closely with clients on education regulations, tax policy, and immigration issues.
Kari previously served as Director of Congressional and Governmental Affairs with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and as Senior Legislative Assistant within the Office of the President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). For nearly two decades, she has actively participated in associations, coalitions, and working groups related to higher education, scientific research, innovation, and student financial aid.
Issue Expertise: Higher Education Act and related education regulations, science and tech policy, economic development, taxation, immigration, education research, and humanities and arts programs.
Additional Experience: Kari enhanced her knowledge of science policy serving at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Kari also served as an Economist with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Vital Statistics: Kari earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan. Wanting to combine her interest in economics and technological innovation, Kari received her Master of Science in Public Policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology. When not enjoying the quietness of her office or the halls of Congress, Kari can be found shuttling her three boys between soccer practices.
Amanda Bruno
Amanda is a trusted specialist in education, economic development, and workforce policy across Congress and within the Departments of Education, Commerce, and Labor, as well as the National Science Foundation. She has years of experience in navigating the legislative processes to authorize and fund federal programs related to education and scientific research funding, sustainable economic development, and access to education and workforce training. Amanda leverages her relationships on Capitol Hill to create tailored strategies to advance client federal policy and research goals by building on mutual areas of overlap between client strengths and congressional priorities. In addition to her committed work on behalf of Lewis-Burke clients, Amanda drives research community initiatives through her leadership on STEM education policy and participation in the firm’s Technology Based Economic Development and Workforce practice groups.
Issue areas: education, workforce, economic development, immigration, and advanced wireless policy.
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Amanda served as a Government Affairs Associate in The Ohio State University’s Office of Federal Relations in Washington, D.C., where she handled a portfolio that included higher education issues and administrative functions.
Vital Statistics: A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Amanda graduated summa cum laude from Miami University with bachelor’s degrees in political science and international studies and has a master’s in public policy from George Mason University. Her dedication to the pursuit of nuanced and ethical advocacy was recognized by the Byrce Harlow Foundation through her inauguration into their fellowship program’s 2022-2023 class. As a lover of history, Amanda spends her days off taking in D.C.’s historical sights and museums. She enjoys traveling, reading, and cheering on Ohio’s professional and collegiate sports teams.
Bill Ruch
Technology Based Economic Development Practice
Bill Ruch is the Chair of Lewis-Burke’s Technology-Based Economic Development (TBED) Practice, which provides strategic support to clients on commercializing research from lab to market, launching new entrepreneurial assistance programming, forging public-private partnerships, shaping innovation policy, and pursuing regional economic development opportunities. In addition to these efforts, Bill’s diverse portfolio covers federal interests across the research and development spectrum, including serving as one of the firm’s top experts in federal social and behavioral science and domestic security efforts. Bill leverages over a decade of experience supporting clients as they seek to pursue and advance opportunities throughout the federal research, innovation, tax, appropriations, and workforce spaces.
Through the TBED Practice, Bill meets clients where they are in their commercialization/ecosystem-building journey through actionable intelligence on future federal direction, support for the development of sensible federal policies and programs, and direct connections with key decisionmakers. These efforts have led to success for our clients in extraordinarily competitive programs and numerous policy wins.
Bill's day-to-day can include providing in-depth analysis on federal trends, targeted advocacy on Capitol Hill and at federal agencies, and coalition building with relevant stakeholders to bolster messaging.
Issue Expertise: Appropriations, economic development, technology transfer, social and behavioral sciences, criminal justice, homeland security, National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Commerce, Department of Treasury, and STEM education.
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Bill accrued valuable state and local government experience at the Michigan House of Representatives and was involved in various political campaigns.
Vital Statistics: Bill is a proud land-grant graduate, having attended Michigan State University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law. Outside of work, Bill enjoys distance running and American League baseball.
Otto Katt
Talent and Workforce Development Practice
As a former educator, Otto Katt brings a passion to his workforce and education policy and advocacy work in his Workforce Practice Group Chair role. In addition to those areas, he brings experience in immigration, economic development, research, and tax policy on behalf of Lewis-Burke clients. Otto provides strategic guidance on legislative, administrative, and regulatory issues at the Department of Education (ED) and Department of Labor (DOL), in addition to other federal agencies. He leverages his professional knowledge and expertise, gained while working in the K-12 space and at the state and federal policy level, to provide timely insight and support to a wide range of clients, including institutions and systems of higher education, associations, foundations, and coalitions on key education and workforce policy issues including federal student financial aid, workforce development legislation, ed R&D, the evolving higher education landscape, and the “business” of higher education.
Before joining Lewis-Burke, Otto served as the Education Advisor for Representative Phil Roe, a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. While there, he proposed and developed education and workforce development policies for the congressman. He also staffed and advised the congressman at Education and Workforce Committee meetings and district events and engaged various interest groups, stakeholder groups, and agencies regarding pertinent legislation.
Issue Expertise: K-12 and STEM education policy, higher education policy, workforce development policy, federal research policy, student financial aid, accreditation, “business” of higher education.
Additional Experience: Otto has worked in education as a teacher, administrator, and policy analyst in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. These experiences include serving as a Teach For America Corps member.
Vital Statistics: Otto received his B.A. in History from The College of New Jersey and his Masters in International Studies: Latin America from the University of Connecticut. He grew up in New Jersey, runs the occasional marathon, and enjoys exploring far Southeast DC with his family.
Nicole Parker, Ph.D.
Dr. Nicole Parker is a seasoned health policy professional, specializing in the intersection of health and biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences research. At Lewis-Burke, she focuses on federal research policy, grants policy, and education and workforce policy, particularly within key agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), and other grant-making bodies under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Leveraging her background as a biomedical researcher, Nicole effectively connects with clients aiming to expand their biomedical research and health-funding portfolios. Her prior role as a federal contractor in various NIH offices uniquely positions her to help clients navigate the agency's priorities and operations.
During her tenure at Lewis-Burke, she has successfully supported a diverse array of clients, including universities, non-profits, societies, and foundations. Her comprehensive understanding of these fields, coupled with her passion for driving positive change, underscores her effectiveness in advancing health policy objectives and fostering innovation in biomedical research.
Issue Expertise: Biomedical research, research and grants policy, graduate education, biomedical training and workforce, STEM education, and broadening participation in STEM.
Additional Expertise: Before joining Lewis-Burke, Dr. Nicole Parker served as a Science Policy Analyst at Ripple Effect, a management consulting firm providing services to federal, private, and non-profit clients. During her tenure, she contributed to impactful projects within prestigious institutions such as the NIH and the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS). Nicole's exemplary work ethic and expertise were further honed during her tenure as a Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellow at The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. In this role, she worked with the Board on Higher Education and Workforce, solidifying her dedication to science policy, particularly in the realms of education and workforce development.
Vital Statistics:
Dr. Nicole Parker earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2017. Her doctoral research focused on elucidating the role of the growth factor GDNF in the replication and differentiation of stem cells in the testis. Nicole is also a proud graduate of the Meyerhoff Scholarship Program at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, with a minor in sociology, in 2011.
In her leisure time, Nicole cherishes moments with her family and dedicates herself to service activities with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She also enjoys participating in her monthly book club, a testament to her enduring curiosity and passion for lifelong learning.