WASHINGTON, DC – Chris Shank, an expert in federal aerospace, defense, and energy research and development, has joined Van Scoyoc Associates (VSA) as Vice President, the firm announced.

“No one understands the federal research and development landscape better than Chris. He’s been at the forefront of the debate for more than 20 years and helped set policy during the first months of the Trump Administration,” H. Stewart “Stu” Van Scoyoc, President & CEO of VSA, said in welcoming Chris to the firm. “Chris’s broad experience in government and deep understanding of policy will make him a sought-after resource for those looking to engage with the federal government on a wide range of R&D issues.”

Shank was most recently a senior advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force and assisted in the stand-up of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research & Engineering and the White House National Space Council. He also led the Agency Review Teams for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation on behalf of President Trump’s Transition Team.

“It’s an exciting time to be making this transition” Shank said. “The industry is changing – and adapting to change – so rapidly. I’m looking forward to helping clients navigate pathways to success.” He added, “I had worked with VSA a number of times in my career and was always impressed by the caliber of their work, so it was an easy choice when I decided it was time to try something new after 24 years of government service.”

Earlier in his career, Chris served on the House Science Committee from 2001-2005, and again from 2011-2017 as Policy Director. From 2005-2009, Chris was the director of strategic investments at NASA, responsible for the formulation and defense of the agency’s $17 billion in programs and institutional budgets. Following NASA, Chris worked at Honeywell from 2009-2011 where he led military, intelligence, civil and commercial space business development efforts.

Chris served in the Air Force from 1991 to 2001, working at the Pentagon, National Reconnaissance Office and Air Force Space Command. He earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado in Boulder, and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame. He also graduated from a summer session of International Space University in Stockholm, Sweden.

Chris is already working on behalf of three clients: NanoRacks, Jacobs Technology, and Texas A&M University.