Heather Molino joined Cornerstone in 2015 after two decades of Capitol Hill and communications experience, where she developed significant expertise in cyber, defense, space, intelligence, and national security. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Heather was the minority staff director for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) under Ranking Member C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD).
As staff director, Heather helped returned the House Intelligence Committee to the business of passing budget bills and other important legislation. Her achievements include helping pass into law five Intelligence Authorization Acts in four years, for Fiscal Year 2011 through 2015. Heather and her team helped create a coalition of business support to pass the most prominent cyber legislation in the House, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), as well as major intelligence reform legislation, the USA Freedom Act, all by strong bipartisan margins.
In her role, Heather was also responsible for advising Members of the Committee on policy, politics, and communications to ensure U.S. intelligence professionals have the resources, capabilities, and authorities needed to keep our country safe. Heather also organized and managed Democratic staff, handled the committee’s budget, oversaw press strategy, and ensured proper and efficient oversight of our nation’s intelligence agencies. Before joining the committee, Heather served as deputy chief of staff and director of communications in Congressman Ruppersberger’s personal office.
Prior to Capitol Hill, Heather worked in broadcast journalism for over 10 years. She was a TV reporter and anchor in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Washington State, and North Carolina. Heather holds a B.A. in Economics and Government from Cornell University. She is married to West Point graduate Michael Molino. The couple has three small children.
For more of Ms. Molino’s media hits, click here.