Naomi Webber, Ph.D.
Dr. Naomi Webber serves as the Managing Principal at Lewis-Burke Associates, building on over 24 years of science policy and research administration experience to advance client priorities. In this role, Naomi oversees strategic direction and client relationships for the firm.
Within Lewis-Burke, Naomi plays a leadership role with universities, providing expertise in both fundamental and applied research, with a focus on engineering, physical sciences, and computer sciences, as well as international research collaboration. Naomi has a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry and extensive experience in research administration, strategic planning, science policy, and international relations, which enables her to support client activities in a broad range of areas.
Before joining Lewis-Burke, Naomi worked at the UK research funding agencies for over nine years, where Naomi gained a broad range of experience including roles in grant proposal management, university relationship engagement, international affairs, and served as Chief of Staff. Naomi then moved to the British Embassy in the U.S. to build international research collaborations between UK and U.S. research funding agencies. In that role, Naomi developed insight into a broad range of U.S. federal research agencies.
Issue Expertise: engineering, physical sciences, computer sciences with a strong focus on basic research and the National Science Foundation, as well as international research collaborations across federal agencies.
Additional Experience: Before joining Lewis-Burke, Naomi represented Research Councils UK (now UK Research and Innovation) at their U.S. office at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. In that role, Naomi shared intelligence between the UK and U.S. on science and innovation policy, facilitated international visits for both British and American policy makers, and help develop new collaboration programs and activities between the UK Research Councils and U.S. funding agencies.
Vital Statistics: Naomi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Physics from the University of East Anglia in the UK (with a year of her studies spent at the University of Texas in Austin). Naomi also holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of East Anglia. Coming from the UK, Naomi enjoys a nice cup of tea, especially if it’s accompanied by a biscuit!
Bridget Krieger
Bridget Krieger is a trusted advocate on Capitol Hill and a champion for federal research agencies, most notably the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Having worked for two decades representing the interests of research and higher education entities, Bridget designs and implements federal and congressional strategies that attain short-term wins while solidifying the foundation for long-term success.
Bridget covers a diverse range of issues and leads Lewis-Burke's growing agricultural portfolio. Whether navigating the highly political Farm Bill and agriculture appropriations processes, Bridget ensures dynamic strategies with multiple paths for success, avoiding a single point of failure. Examples of past and current efforts include protecting vital life science programming, growing support for natural disaster mitigation, raising the profile of chronically underfunded disciplines, and securing funding for large-scale projects through the federal budgeting and congressional appropriations processes.
Issue Areas: agriculture, appropriations, farm bill, basic life sciences, natural disasters.
Additional Experience: Bridget gained government relations experience in the private and public arenas through appointments with former Congressman Dennis Moore of Kansas, Labour Party Headquarters in London, and Tulane University in New Orleans, LA.
Vital Statistics: Born and raised in Kansas City, Bridget is a proud alum of Tulane University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. When not discussing the importance of agricultural research and Cooperative Extension, Bridget can be found watching her KC teams at home with her husband and two kids.
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.
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.
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.