Dr. Luz Cumba Garcia
Dr. Luz Cumba Garcia is an immunologist, policy advisor, and award-winning science communicator with over 15 years of experience spanning academia, government, and the private sector. She works at the intersection of science, global health policy, and diplomacy, advancing evidence-informed approaches to international collaboration.
She is an Independent Consultant with Lewis-Burke Associates, where she advises on international engagement and global policy strategy. Her work focuses on providing strategic guidance on collaborative opportunities, helping organizations navigate complex international science and policy landscapes, and delivering actionable insights to support clients’ global initiatives.
She brings a unique combination of deep scientific training, U.S. foreign policy experience, and science diplomacy expertise, with a career spanning the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), global health programs such as the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and international research cooperation initiatives.
Issue Expertise: Global health policy, health systems strengthening, biomedical research policy, international science and technology cooperation, international development, foreign affairs, science diplomacy, science policy, evidence-informed policymaking, capacity building in low- and middle-income countries, science communication, public engagement, and regulatory affairs.
Additional Experience: Dr. Cumba Garcia most recently served as an Advisor for Sustainability at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, where she supported PEPFAR in advancing sustainable global health policies and strengthening health systems in low- and middle-income countries. In this role, she contributed to policy development, interagency coordination, and technical assistance to country programs, with a focus on long-term sustainability and country ownership.
She is an alumna of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellowship, during which she served at both the U.S. Department of State and USAID. At the State Department, within the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs’ Office of Mexican Affairs (WHA/MEX), she managed the Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) portfolio and advanced U.S.–Mexico cooperation on global health and regulatory issues. Her work included coordinating U.S. government responses to transboundary health threats such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and supporting bilateral and regional regulatory cooperation. She also contributed to regional initiatives such as the Economic and Health Dialogue of the Americas (EHA), including organizing a regulatory reliance meeting that convened more than 70 delegates from 12 countries.
During her fellowship at USAID, within the Bureau for the Middle East’s Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program, she supported Arab–Israeli scientific collaboration in a complex geopolitical environment. She served on an interagency review committee, evaluated research proposals, and engaged researchers across the Middle East and North Africa, strengthening her ability to operate in politically sensitive, multicultural contexts while maintaining scientific rigor and development objectives.
Prior to her federal service and current consulting role, Dr. Cumba Garcia served as a Policy Advisor at Lewis-Burke Associates, advising clients on federal policy and international affairs. She is also the founder of SciPolicy Global Strategies LLC, a consulting firm providing strategic advisory, capacity-building, and communications services at the intersection of science, policy, and international affairs.
Her regional experience in Latin America and the Caribbean includes a fellowship with the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). She is a founding member of the Science Diplomacy Network in Latin America and the Caribbean (DiploCientifica), a member of the Global Young Academy (GYA), and serves on the International Science Council (ISC) Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean (RFP-LAC) Partnerships Committee.
Vital Statistics: Dr. Cumba Garcia holds a Ph.D. in Immunology from Mayo Clinic, an M.S. in Immunology from the University of Granada (Spain), and a B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Universidad Metropolitana in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is the recipient of the 2020 Science Defender Award from the Union of Concerned Scientists for Spanish-language science communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. A proud Puerto Rican, she is deeply committed to advancing equity, international collaboration, and public engagement in science and policy. She enjoys traveling and exercising.
Shanni Silberberg
Dr. Shanni Silberberg serves as a Principal at Lewis-Burke Associates, providing strategic expertise to the firm's defense portfolio. With a unique background spanning neuroscience research and federal science policy, she brings a deep understanding of the intersection between scientific advancement and national security priorities. Dr. Silberberg is an expert in navigating federal regulatory environments, developing legislative strategies, and building coalitions to advance science and innovation. Dr. Silberberg spent five years advising the Director of Basic Research at the Department of Defense, where she shaped policy on research protection, international talent retention, STEM education, and scientific integrity initiatives. She was instrumental in developing DoD's research protection policy for fundamental research, working across federal agencies, Congress, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Issue Expertise: Defense science and technology, research security, basic research policy, STEM immigration, international scientific collaboration, research protection, scientific integrity, and federal R&D funding mechanisms, neuroscience, and genetics.
Additional Experience: Prior to her work advising DOD, she worked in the Engineering Division at the National Science Foundation, identifying research gaps and creating scientific funding programs to address critical challenges in biological and chemical engineering. Her experience also includes monitoring and evaluation of development programs at the United States Agency for International Development. Throughout her career, she has successfully secured federal grants for research, created grant programs within the federal government, and reviewed federal grant proposals from universities.
Vital Statistics: Dr. Silberberg holds a B.S. in Neurobiology and Physiology from the University of Maryland College Park and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of California San Francisco. She was a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the United States Agency for International Development and the National Science Foundation. When not advocating for science policy, she spends time in nature, makes wearable art, and travels (aiming to visit all 50 states with her kids by 2050).
Helen Glover
Helen Glover supports Lewis-Burke Associates at the intersection of environmental resilience and emerging technologies. Drawing on her multidisciplinary background, she assists clients by conducting legislative research, providing congressional updates, and offering insights on funding and research opportunities. Helen covers the Department of Defense (DOD), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Issue Areas: Future Tech, Computing, International Science Policy, Environment, Agriculture, Geosciences
Additional Experience: Having grown up on a family farm for young adults with disabilities, Helen is passionate about advocacy and community engagement - values that continue to shape her work. Prior to joining Lewis-Burke, she gained experience through various internships and projects in the government, nonprofit, and research sectors. In the government, Helen worked with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, NOAA, and the U.S. Senate. In the nonprofit and research sectors, she collaborated with Oxfam International, the World Wildlife Fund, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Currently, Helen is a research fellow with a focus on the geopolitics of cybersecurity and national security. Since 2022, she has also served as an Advisory Board Member for the Alliance for Sustainability, fostering strategic partnerships and supporting pragmatic initiatives.
Vital Statistics: Helen graduated from Smith College with dual degrees in Computer Science and Environmental Science and Policy. Outside the firm, she contributes to civic tech projects and conducts human-computer interaction research, exploring how people build communities through online platforms. In her free time, she enjoys coding and expanding her reading library on design.
Julia Rizzo
Julia Rizzo supports Lewis-Burke by researching and providing insights on issues that intersect between engineering, technology, economic development, policy, and research innovation. With a background and education in public interest technology, Julia’s experience informs her research and helps her to provide clients with valuable perspectives on strategic partnerships and advanced manufacturing. She focuses on federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Defense (DOD), Economic Development Administration (EDA), and United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO).
Issue Expertise: Engineering, Economic Development, Defense, Public-Private Partnerships, and Technology
Additional Experience: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Assoicates, Julia was an intern at the National Science Foundation Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate, assisting on the Regional Innovation Engines Program. This experience gave her insights into the federal government and regional innovation initiatives. Additionally, Julia has experience in State and Local Government through the Ohio Senate and Franklin County Board of Commissioners Office, giving her an understanding of the flow of funding and stakeholder engagement.
Vital Statistics: Julia is from northcentral Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in public management, leadership, and policy and minors in science and engineering and history. In her free time, she enjoys listening to live music, exploring new restaurants, and finding new hiking trails.
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.
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.
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.
Allison Reed
Allison supports Lewis-Burke by using her background and education in public policy to provide clients with insights related to emerging technology and education policy, including funding opportunities, policy trends, agency updates, and congressional activities. This includes agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Department of Education, and others of relevance. Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Allison gained experience interning for organizations focused on undergraduate education and media that furthered her knowledge of technology and education policy.
Issue areas: Future Technology, education, social sciences, and communities
Vital Statistics: Allison graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with her B.A. in Public Policy with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation. Allison studied abroad in Rome, Italy in the Spring of 2022, where she completed projects on humanitarian response. She is originally from Rochester, NY and in her free time enjoys traveling and exploring DC.
Kiana Newman
Kiana supports Lewis-Burke by providing valuable insights to clients in the fields of biomedical research, biotechnology, and economic development. Her expertise involves tracking legislative and agency developments and offering tailored assistance to clients based on their individual requests. Among the federal agencies she focuses on are the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), Small Business Administration (SBA), and Economic Development Administration (EDA). With a background rooted in medicine, Kiana brings a unique perspective to each subject. This has allowed Kiana to work with clients and agencies to facilitate the implementation of cutting-edge strategies and transformative approaches in biomedical research and biotechnology.
Issue Areas: Biomedical research, biotechnology and bioengineering, health research, economic development, public-private partnerships, and technology.
Additional Information: Prior to joining Lewis-Burke Associates, Kiana was a legislative policy research intern at Advanced Continuing Education Association, where she honed her skills in analyzing and tracking policy developments. Her experience in this role gave her a keen understanding of the intricacies of legislative processes and their impact on various sectors, including healthcare. She spent part of her undergraduate experience participating in biomedical engineering research labs, analyzing complex scientific journals to extract key information for audiences. Additionally, Kiana worked in a hospital setting, gaining firsthand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities within the healthcare industry. This diverse background has equipped her with a comprehensive perspective that she now applies to her work, providing valuable insights to our clients.
Vital Statistics: Kiana was born and raised in the DMV area, receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, where she double majored in Biology and African American Studies. Outside the office, Kiana enjoys playing volleyball, exploring the city, and skiing!