Holland & Knight welcomes Mike Wakefield as a partner and Joseph Sopcisak as a senior policy advisor in Washington, D.C.
They are members of the firm's Public Policy & Regulation Group, as well as the National Security & Defense Industry Group, which debuted in January. Most recently, Mr. Wakefield was senior counsel and a professional staff member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and Mr. Sopcisak was a technical director at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment at the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)."The firm's recent announcement of our National Security & Defense Industry Group demonstrates our commitment to this sector. Hiring Mike and Joe shows we are committed to a world-class practice from the Pentagon to Capitol Hill and beyond," said Rich Gold, leader of the firm's Public Policy & Regulation Group."With Mike and Joe's invaluable experience and background on defense policy and appropriations, they are the ideal team to assist in launching our new National Security & Defense Industry Group," said Jason Klitenic, who chairs the new industry group. "They will be instrumental in providing our defense, manufacturing and technology clients with critical insight and advice as the new administration and the new Congress begin to execute their policies and goals.
"As senior counsel for the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Defense, Mr. Wakefield was responsible for oversight of appropriations accounts spanning the DOD with a cumulative value of more than $200 billion. While on the committee, Mr. Wakefield worked with senators, senior DOD civilian and military officials, and acquisition executives on major policies and programs across the DOD and all military branches. Prior to this role, Mr. Wakefield worked as senior counsel for Sen.
Susan Collins (R-Maine), for whom he served as primary advisor for national defense, foreign policy, homeland security, veterans policy and election law. In this role, he successfully advocated for billions in funding and dozens of bill and report provisions across various appropriations subcommittees, as well as in annual National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA). Mr. Wakefield earned a J.D. degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.S. degree from the University of Virginia."Holland & Knight has an impeccable reputation on the Hill and within the defense sector," Mr. Wakefield said. "I am excited to help further develop the firm's new industry group and serve clients in both legal and lobbying matters, including guiding them through the appropriations process."As the Technical Director for Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, Mr. Sopcisak played a pivotal role in executing the Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III and Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) authorities and appropriations, both of which have seen a major increase in utilization and appropriations since 2020. He has represented the DOD in high-level interagency and international forums, fostering partnerships that strengthen the nation's ability to respond to emerging threats.Prior to working for the DOD, Mr. Sopcisak was a staff scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where he managed cutting-edge research portfolios focused on materials and processes critical to national defense. Mr. Sopcisak earned an M.S. degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Virginia and a B.S. degree from the University of Pittsburgh."I am honored to join Holland & Knight's new National Security & Defense Industry Group and work alongside so many former government and military leaders with impressive technical and policy backgrounds," Mr. Sopcisak said. "I aim to leverage my extensive experience in advanced science and technology, defense manufacturing and supply chains, federal budgeting and industrial base policy to make a significant impact within the private sector, particularly when it comes to delivering strategic lobbying and government relations."
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