Heather Hopkins is a senior leader in the private sector and U.S. government over a 20-year career in Washington, D.C. and overseas, with extensive experience in national security. She has successfully managed high-profile offices and led teams at the White House, the Departments of Defense and State, in war zones and on Capitol Hill. She advises decision makers and leaders at the c-suite level on best practices and strategies to achieve their priorities and advocate for their objectives. She is known as a strategic partner, problem solver, for building bridges, influencing outcomes, building trust, and providing valued counsel.

Ms. Hopkins recently completed a three-year tour at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert (HQE), where she held three different, senior roles at the U.S. Army Headquarters and at the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). She was the Secretary of the Army’s Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser where she implemented his guidance to run and manage the 1.1M person organization. Next, she worked for the Deputy Secretary of Defense, who is the COO of the $700B enterprise. She helped the Deputy manage policy issues on personnel, health, and readiness to ensure the U.S. military is ready to fight and win the nation’s wars. She supported him as the DOD COVID Task Force leader. Finally, she established a new office at the Pentagon for Intergovernmental Affaris to synchronize and coordinate the DOD’s interactions with governors, mayors and other state and local officials.

Ms. Hopkins previously was Vice President for government relations at the privately held aerospace and defense company, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC). She managed their business leaders’ engagements with the executive and legislative branches and grew their communications and branding efforts. Prior to joining SNC, she was with BAE Systems, Inc. working with Capitol Hill on a variety of Army, Navy, and intelligence issues and programs.

Ms. Hopkins’ other roles have focused on government relations and strategic communications. She served at the White House, for George W. Bush, on the National Security Council as a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Legislative Affairs. There she was the principal point of contact to Congress on national security, foreign affairs, and defense and intelligence issues. In the early years of the Iraq War, Ms. Hopkins served two tours there with the State Department. She was the Senior Adviser for communication at U.S. Embassy Baghdad and ran protocol at the Coalition Provisional Authority managing all major visits. She worked in legislative affairs at both the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Prior to serving in the Executive Branch, Ms. Hopkins was on Capitol Hill with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich.

Ms. Hopkins is currently with Deloitte Consulting, as a specialist in their Defense, Security and Justice sector. There she provides expertise in human capital, strategic communication, and organization transformation to their government clients.

Ms. Hopkins holds two Master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She resides in the Washington, D.C. area.