Tony DiGiovanni
Tony joins the energy practice at Lewis-Burke after a twenty-five-year career in federal service as a senior executive leader with extensive agency and Hill expertise in budget, appropriations, and authorizations. Over his career at the Department of Energy, on Capitol Hill, and at the National Science Foundation he developed broad expertise in the federal budgeting, appropriations, and authorization process; basic and applied energy, science and technology innovation, and workforce development research and policy issues; strategic engagement with the executive and legislative branches; and the inner workings of agency operations.
Issue Expertise: Tony has an extensive background on the federal budget and appropriations process, deep expertise in Congressional and OMB engagement strategy, and broad experience in energy and science research and policy and working with national laboratories and universities.
Additional Experience: Tony recently came to Lewis-Burke from federal service, most recently serving as Deputy Budget Director of the National Science Foundation. Prior to joining NSF, he served as the Found Budget Director and Congressional Strategist of the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). He also served as the Director of Budget and Finance for the DOE Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (a.k.a. Yucca Mountain), as a Special Adviser on Sustainable Development with the DOE Office of Policy and International Affairs, and in several positions with the DOE Office of the Chief Financial Officer including several years as DOE liaison to the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development subcommittees. He served as a Congressional Fellow with the U.S. House Appropriations Energy and Water Development subcommittee and as a Congressional Fellow in the U.S. Senate for a member on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Vital Statistics: Tony earned a master’s degree in public policy from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, and an undergraduate degree in cultural anthropology, both at the University of Michigan. While an undergraduate he played for the men’s lacrosse club team and was an assistant coach for the team while he was in graduate school. Tony enjoys being active playing recreational basketball and softball, golfing, bicycling and swimming. He also enjoys spending time outdoors camping and hiking with his family, especially in dark skies places where the Milky Way is visible at night.
Keaton Dicapo
Keaton supports Lewis Burke by utilizing his research background to track policy and legislative developments for clients, providing them with unique insight into the areas of public health, biomedical research, environmental impacts, and product safety. He further assists clients in navigating the changing dynamics of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), among others.
Issue Expertise: Healthcare, public health, public safety, environment, energy.
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Keaton interned in the Louisiana House of Representatives and worked on a gubernatorial and District Attorney campaign in Tennessee. He also interned at a land-use consulting firm in Nashville where he worked on community development and energy projects, solidifying his love for energy and environmental policy. Keaton moved to Washington, DC, in 2024 working to support projects in the energy, healthcare, infrastructure, and education sectors. Most recently, he worked at a trade association for health insurance brokers where he managed state affairs, worked on federal policy initiatives, and assisted with the association’s PAC.
Vital Statistics: Keaton is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and lived there until leaving for boarding school. He received his bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Rhodes College. Keaton and his significant other, Kate, live in DC’s historic Foggy Bottom neighborhood, where he serves as the Vice Chair of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC). Outside of work and the ANC, Keaton spends his time baking, writing poems and short stories, reading, and playing guitar. Keaton also enjoys watching sports, particularly the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Isabel Simons
Isabel Simons assists Lewis-Burke by providing insights into areas pertaining to space, energy, national security, and environment. With a background in national security and energy science, Isabel’s experiences enable her to provide clients with valuable perspectives on federal research and development priorities, funding opportunities, and interagency operations. Isabel focuses on programming across agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of State (DOS), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Issue Expertise: National Security, Space, Energy, and Environment
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Isabel interned at the U.S. Department of State in the Office of Foreign Assistance. Through her work on the Near East and North Africa team, Isabel developed regional expertise, informed foreign assistance levels, and contributed to interagency discussions over funding priorities and policy recommendations. This experience provided Isabel with insight into congressional budget processes and federal programing. Additionally, Isabel studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark where she engaged in research pertaining to Arctic geopolitics. This opportunity enabled her to develop an in-depth understanding of Arctic policy from both domestic and international perspectives.
Vital Statistics: Isabel is originally from Pasadena, CA and graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy with a bachelor's degree in public policy and a minor in energy science and policy. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, scuba diving, and playing the daily New York Times word games. Isabel is also a native French speaker.
Sarah Gianotti
Sarah Gianotti supports Lewis-Burke by utilizing her background in environmental science and grants consulting to assist clients interested in environmental and energy issue areas. Her experience in client outreach, grant research, and government affairs has prepared her for her role, which includes tracking legislation, agency developments, and funding opportunities, as well as providing insight into a variety of issues. The agencies Sarah primarily covers are the Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
History: Sarah’s passion and expertise is evident through her experience in consulting, government, and sustainability. Before joining Lewis-Burke, Sarah assisted at a grant writing company where she was familiarized with DOE, NSF, and education funding opportunities and projects. She also gained exposure to the lobbying world through interning at Alpine Group, a bi-partisan lobbying firm based in Washington, D.C.. During college, she served in the Texas Senate as a Messenger during the Texas 87th Legislative Session and the Summer Interim. Additionally, she led a student organization under her University’s Office of Sustainability called Green Greeks; there, she organized and executed environmental focused service and social events for fifty student members.
Issue Areas: Environment, Energy, Weather and Climate, Infrastructure, Clean Energy Resilience, and Transportation.
Vital Statistics: Sarah was born, raised, and schooled in Austin, Texas. She graduated in 2023 from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a focus in Geography. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys practicing yoga, going to farmer’s markets, and taking hikes through Rock Creek Park with her husband, Austin, and her little dog, Kiki.
Solomon Morgan
Solomon Morgan supports Lewis-Burke by researching and providing information on opportunities and policy developments in energy and national security. With a background and education in public relations, consulting, and outreach, Solomon’s experience in government relations helps him to provide clients with valuable perspectives on emerging technologies, global clean energy efforts, and defense research and engineering. Solomon is focused on funding opportunities and other new developments from the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Defense (DOD) and applies his knowledge of energy and national security programs to support cross-cutting issues in science and technology.
Issue Areas: Energy, Defense and National Security, Critical and Emerging Technologies.
Additional Information: Before joining Lewis-Burke, Solomon held several internships around Washington D.C. to expand his knowledge of consulting and public policy. He interned in the United States Practice at the Albright Stonebridge Group, where he provided analysis on business applications of the CHIPS and Science Act. He served as a Corporate Diplomacy Fellow at the Meridian International Center, working to support corporate engagement with foreign officials. Solomon also worked for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Strategic Alliances & Outreach Department, supporting business efforts to promote and engage with Minority-Serving Institutions and underserved communities. He also interned for the District Office of Congressman Bradley Schneider (D-IL), where he focused on student loan forgiveness and supporting constituents' receipt of Paycheck Protection Program Loans.
Vital Statistics: Solomon was born in Waukegan, Illinois and received his Bachelor’s degree with honors from Howard University in Washington D.C, where he studied Political Science and Economics. Solomon enjoys global politics and economics and spends time researching issues including the global market for clean energy, critical minerals, and finance. Outside of the office, Solomon explores D.C. restaurants, events, and bookstores, and especially likes restaurant week. He enjoys walking and cooking as well as reading historical and science fiction, political novels, and international literature.
Matthew Kopfer, MPS
Matthew Kopfer supports clients at Lewis-Burke Associates by tracking legislative developments and identifying funding opportunities across a broad range of issue areas, including global affairs, homeland security, energy, emergency management, and the arts and humanities. He delivers analysis and insights on programs and policy initiatives within the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Energy (DOE), and the rapidly evolving emerging technologies space, including cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
Issue Expertise: International Collaborations and Partnerships, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Emergency Management, Social Science and the Humanities, Energy
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Matthew interned with Senator Mark Warner (VA) in his Washington, DC office, where he gained an understanding of education and national security policy and helped constituents navigate federal agencies.
Vital Statistics: A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, Matthew earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from the University of Virginia in 2022. He later received a Master of Professional Studies in Project Management from Georgetown University in 2025. Outside of his professional work, Matthew enjoys traveling and exploring new hobbies.
Bruno Freitas
Bruno Freitas is a passionate and respected former federal government professional with over a quarter century of combined experience working in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. He has cultivated long standing relationships with Members of Congress, congressional staff, and federal agency leadership. Bruno leverages his experience to provide clients with detailed policy advice and tailored comprehensive advocacy strategies to achieve desired results.
Issue Expertise: appropriations, budget, economic development, energy, environment, financial services, infrastructure, and innovation policy
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Bruno worked on Capitol Hill for 28 years, most recently serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Senator Elizabeth Warren. In that role for Senator Warren, he led and managed several policy teams and spearheaded the Senator’s state and local priorities. During his tenure he covered a wide array of federal policy areas including energy, environment, climate change, infrastructure, transportation, appropriations, budget, tax, economy, commerce, small business, defense, and financial services. Bruno was part of the Senator’s team that secured accomplishments in several critical legislative acts such as the American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. He also managed numerous high profile federal projects and on behalf of the Senator obtained billions of dollars for critical infrastructure and economic development.
Vital Statistics: Bruno grew up in Massachusetts and attended Bridgewater State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, all things Boston sports, and cooking Sunday dinner for his wife and two daughters.
Griffin Reinecke
Griffin is a passionate advocate for science and technology policy. An expert in space, energy, and transportation issues, he leverages his experience working on Capitol Hill and relationships with congressional staff to provide Lewis-Burke clients with insight on potential congressional action and upcoming federal funding opportunities.
Issue areas: Civil space research and policy, fundamental and applied energy research and development, environmental research, transportation and infrastructure, and aeronautics.
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Griffin worked on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, where he served on the full committee and more recently on Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. During his time on the Committee, he developed an in-depth knowledge of space and science policy issues while building relationships with key stakeholders at relevant agencies, in academia, and industry. Griffin also worked as an intern in the office of Ron Wyden.
Vital Statistics: Griffin was born and raised in Bend, Oregon and earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and sustainability from the University of Michigan. When not supporting Michigan athletics, Griffin spends his free time outdoors skiing, hiking, or playing golf.
Positioning a University’s New Capability in Materials Research for Nuclear Security
Lewis-Burke developed and executed a strategic plan for a university client to highlight and fully leverage a new experimental capability, raise the university’s national profile in national security and materials research, and increase research funding.
The first phase involved briefing key congressional delegations and staff on the project and the benefits of this new capability. This resulted in inclusion of report language in one of the Senate appropriations bills highlighting the project as a model to emulate, and increased funding in a House appropriations bill for an academic alliance program which funds the research and facility operations of the university.
The next phase involved Lewis-Burke organizing a dedication ceremony to make other agencies aware of the unique capabilities, increasing research funding and users and raising the university’s profile.
Lewis-Burke also worked with the communications teams of federal agencies and science writers from a few science publications to publish press releases and articles in the media the day of the event. The results of this event included new and increased collaboration with federal agencies on future research projects, raised its congressional profile, and increased federal funding.
Establish Partnerships to Win a National Quantum Center
Lewis-Burke helped a university client establish partnerships with national labs, industry, and other research universities to successfully compete for a Department of Energy National Quantum Initiative center.
Lewis-Burke provided the university client advance intelligence about the new large-scale center funding opportunity, but to successfully compete for the multi-disciplinary center, the university client needed to establish partnerships with other institutions and organizations.
Lewis-Burke leveraged existing relationships and connections to national laboratories, private businesses, and other research universities with complementary capabilities and talent to help the university client pursue the right partnerships to successfully compete and have a leading role in the proposal.
Throughout the process Lewis-Burke not only identified and provided contact information for leading researchers and decision-makers at various organizations, but also provided advice on which strategic thrusts to emphasize and claim ownership based on competitive advantage.