Leslie Albright
Ms. Leslie Albright is a Senior Policy Advisor to Lewis-Burke and will serve Lewis-Burke clients with interests in science, space, and national security interests. Ms. Albright has nearly three decades of budget and policy experience with both the executive and legislative branches of the Federal government.
Ms. Albright began her career at the Department of Commerce, in Washington, D.C., working nearly 10 years for the Department’s Chief Financial Officer to review budget requirements and make policy recommendations for the Economic Development Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs and for all Emergency Disaster declarations at the Department of Commerce. In 2001, Ms. Albright was hired as a Professional Staff Member for the U.S. House of Representatives, House Appropriations Committee. Among the departments and agencies Albright oversaw were the Department of Justice, the Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Space Council, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Department of Defense. As a Professional Staff Member, Albright was responsible for reviewing Federal agency budgets, drafting legislative and report language and making funding recommendations to Members of Congress, including the Chair or Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and relevant Appropriations Subcommittee “Cardinals.” Albright regularly convened meetings with relevant agency personnel, academia, private sector interests, the Government Accountability Office and the National Academies to inform funding and policy recommendations. Her last position was Minority Clerk for the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.
Issue Expertise: Ground and space-based science infrastructure; human and uncrewed space exploration; basic research; tech development; national security, Federal law enforcement.
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Albright worked with a firm advocating additional funding for national research facilities, academia, non-profits and FFRDCs.
Vital Statistics: Ms. Albright received a B.A. from SUNY Plattsburgh and an M.S. from Boston University. Ms. Albright retired from Federal service in 2019 and now resides with her family in the Hudson River Valley, New York. There, she serves on a local land conservation trust, serves as a merit badge counselor for a local Boy Scout Troop, and spends free time gardening, kayaking on the Hudson River, and hiking in the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains.
Zak Kukoff
Zak Kukoff has over a decade of experience in the technology and venture capital sectors, focusing on early-stage investments and entrepreneurship. Zak works closely with founders, startups, and investors to help them navigate Washington and the government.
As the firm’s Tech and Venture Practice Chair, Zak is a leading voice in the startup and investment community, advocating for technological progress. He leverages his experience as both a founder and investor to provide valuable insights to Lewis-Burke clients. Zak also serves as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow to the Foundation on American Innovation and a Visiting Fellow at George Mason University’s National Security Institute.
Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Zak was a venture capitalist at General Catalyst, where he served on the boards of companies like Overjet, Vial, and Luminai. He also founded and sold an education technology company.
Issue Expertise: Venture capital, startup ecosystems, healthcare technology, deep technology, entrepreneurship in higher education, family foundations, and emerging technology trends.
Vital Statistics: Zak earned his Bachelor of Arts in behavioral economics from New York University. From a family connection to Autism, he also founded Autism Ambassadors, a non-profit organization that teaches neurotypical students how to support their peers on the autism spectrum and remains active in supporting it today.
Nikky Garaga
Nikky supports Lewis-Burke by using her background and education in public policy to provide insight into the fields of future technology, economic development, and the physical sciences. Her role involves tracking and analyzing developments across governmental agencies, Congress, and funding opportunities, providing up-to-date information and guidance for clients. Nikky’s experience working in higher education spaces allows her to assist institutions and research organizations in meeting their goals for federal funding, development, and regulatory processes. Her focus includes agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Economic Development Administration (EDA).
Issue Areas: Future Technology, Economic Development, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Workforce Development
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Nikky was an intern for Senator John Hickenlooper (CO) in his DC office, where she had the opportunity to contribute to the Senator's Artificial Intelligence and National Security legislative initiatives. This experience solidified her passion for science and technology. Additionally, Nikky also interned in London, England at the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, giving her a unique international perspective on policymaking and implementation.
Vital Statistics: Nikky is from Denver, Colorado and graduated with distinction from the University of Colorado Boulder with a bachelor's degree in political science and minors in journalism and philosophy. In her free time, Nikky enjoys attending live music events and frequenting DC’s farmer’s markets and museums.
Susannah V. Howieson, JD, MEM
Susannah V. Howieson, JD, MEM is a Federal science and technology policy expert who focuses on basic and applied energy research and development and national security science and technology. In addition, her years of experience working with the Executive Office of the President, Federal research agencies, and Congress on critical science policy issues have provided her with broad expertise and networks that enable her to support clients across energy, defense, physical sciences, and economic development issues.
Most recently, Susannah led strategic planning, interagency coordination, and infrastructure planning for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science where she spearheaded efforts on laboratory modernization, place-based innovation, and increased research program integration. Susannah managed the development of an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of Science and NSF and created a vision for the future of the National Laboratory complex (Laboratories of the Future) through far-reaching stakeholder engagement. She also completed a rotation in NNSA’s Office of Policy and Strategic Planning, further deepening her connections to and understanding of the nuclear community. Susannah is a master communicator, facilitator, and consensus builder, and is especially skillful in distilling complex policy topics down to key digestible messages.
Susannah has authored dozens of reports on topics such as technology transfer, facilities and infrastructure planning and prioritization, and government laboratory-university partnerships. Her efforts have been integral to the development of critical national policies, including the Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy, the National Security S&T Strategy, and the Presidential Memorandum on Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion, and she has served on multiple interagency committees, such as Lab-to-Market and the subcommittee on Critical and Emerging Technologies List.
Issue Expertise: Basic and applied energy research and development and DOE; Nuclear production, policy, and security and NNSA; physical sciences; Federal research management, national labs and FFRDCs, interagency coordination, and infrastructure; Technology transfer and regional economic development; emerging technology and the national security S&T enterprise.
Additional Experience: Before joining DOE, Susannah served in the office of Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) as a Nuclear Security Working Group fellow. For close to a decade prior, Susannah conducted science and technology policy analysis for the IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI), a federally funded research and development center that supports the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and other Federal agencies. At STPI, Susannah focused on assessments of research organizations and national security. She also has significant experience in strategic planning and policy development, primarily through her work for the National Security and International Affairs Division of OSTP. Susannah co-led the research team for the Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories (CRENEL) for DOE. Before STPI, she worked as an attorney at Sidley Austin, LLP in New York, NY, and for the Office of Climate Change Policy and Technology at DOE.
Vital Statistics: Susannah holds a BA from Rice University with a double major in Biology and Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations, a JD cum laude from Boston University, and a Masters of Environmental Management (MEM) in Environmental Economics and Policy from Duke University. She lives in Alexandria with her husband, three children, and a dog, cat, and fish. In her free time, she loves to travel, especially to historical sites and nature preserves.
Devin Bryant
Devin Bryant is a seasoned professional with two decades of space policy experience, the majority of which has been focused on NASA and commercial space issues. Working in both the federal and legislative branches, Devin has cultivated long standing relationships with Agency leadership and Congressional staff on a variety of space matters. At Lewis-Burke, Devin covers issues related to physical sciences, space, transportation, and defense.
Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, Devin worked for NASA in the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. While at NASA, Devin advocated for NASA’s spaceflight and research initiatives by working with House and Senate Members and staff, Execute branch offices and other government agencies. Joining NASA in 2011, Devin worked with Human spaceflight program leadership in gaining Congressional support for the innovative Commercial Crew Program. Devin most recently worked as the lead legislative liaison for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate where he worked to secure Congressional support for the Artemis Program. Prior experience includes acting as the legislative liaison for the Space Technology Mission Directorate as well as the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorates where he helped to rollout and advance Congressional support for the Agency’s technology priorities as well as the forthcoming X-Plane initiatives.
Issue Expertise: Space, Physical Sciences, Transportation, Defense
Additional Experience: Before joining NASA, Devin worked on Capitol Hill for six years with the House Science, Space & Technology Committee. While there, Devin worked for both parties on the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee as well as the Environment, Technology and Standards Subcommittee. During his time with the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, Devin assisted in the development and passage of the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 which authorized the Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft being used for NASA’s return of Astronauts to the Moon in the Artemis Program.
Vital Statistics: A native of Los Angeles, Devin volunteered in High School as the assistant telescope operator at the Griffith Observatory in Hollywood where he developed his passion for space and communications. He parlayed that interest into developing a Space Policy undergraduate degree which he earned from The University of Redlands’ Johnston Center for Integrative Studies in 2004.
In his free time, Devin enjoys Dodgers baseball, coaching his one and only Congressional softball team he has been on since 2004 (as well as his son and daughter’s tee-ball teams), any type of warm weather and spending time showing his wife and two children the cultural significance of 80s comedy films.
Josh Harder
Josh Harder supports Lewis-Burke by tracking legislative and agency movements and developments and funding opportunities for clients in the physical sciences and engineering, economic development, and education. His work involves agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE Sc), Department of Defense (DOD), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Before joining Lewis-Burke, Josh worked on a congressional campaign as the Deputy Organizing Director in Ohio’s 9th congressional district. He helped shape regional political strategy and managed the daily operations of voter contact operations. After a successful re-election campaign, Josh served Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur as a Legislative Research Assistant. While there, he worked on education, energy, and environmental research. He also worked with district stakeholders to connect them with federal grant opportunities.
Issue Areas: Physical Sciences, Engineering, STEM Education and Workforce, Defense, Energy, and Economic Development.
Vital Statistics: Born and raised in northwest Ohio, Josh received his B.A. in Political Science from The Ohio State University and minored in International Relations & Diplomacy, Communication, and Non-profit Management. Outside of the office, Josh enjoys staying active, getting lost in a book, and traveling internationally.
Dominique Foster
Dominique supports Lewis-Burke by using her background in science and education to provide clients with insights related to environment, life sciences, and agriculture initiatives. Her duties include reporting on legislative and agency updates, curating funding opportunities, and attending congressional hearings.
Dominique covers agencies such as National Science Foundation (NSF), National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Geological Survey (USGS), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Dominique’s background has given her a unique perspective on the impact of research, education, and innovation and a passion for STEM outreach and engagement.
Issue Expertise: Environment, Life Sciences, Agriculture, Biological Sciences, Geological Sciences, and Rural Development
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Dominique was a project coordinator at Young Men and Women in Charge Foundation (YMWIC). Here, she was a program coordinator for over 250 children trying to find their academic and career aspirations in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). She established and maintained relationships with community partners and organizations to secure funding and developed future opportunities for the nonprofit. Throughout her life, Dominique has made it a point to serve the community around her through multiple service projects; like the SPCA, March of Dimes, Hope Beyond Borders, and Good Works. She is deeply committed to giving back to the community that so greatly influenced her upbringing.
Vital Statistics: Dominique grew up in West Chester, Pennsylvania. She attended Delaware County Community College and received her associate degree in science for Health Professions. In 2019, she transferred to Temple University and continued her education for her bachelor's degree in Biological Studies. Outside of the office, Dominique enjoys cooking, traveling, and watching football with her family.