Jo-Anne Sears, Vice President, is a distinguished national security and intelligence professional with more than 25 years of experience spanning the highest levels of the U.S. government, military, Intelligence Community, and defense industry. A trusted advisor to Cabinet officials, senior military leaders, and national security executives, she brings deep expertise in intelligence, defense and space policy, and the federal decision-making processes that shape U.S. national security priorities and investments.
From 2019 until Velocity Government Relations merged with SMI in 2026, Sears served as a Partner at the firm. She advised companies at the forefront of the defense, intelligence, aerospace, and space sectors, specializing in translating complex technologies and mission capabilities into compelling policy, programmatic, and investment priorities for Congress, the Executive Branch, and the broader national security community.
Sears has served in national security roles across the Departments of State and Defense, the Intelligence Community, and industry. Her experience includes serving as a trusted advisor to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, as a member of the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force’s national security space team, with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and at the combatant command level.
Sears is a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress and a Ph.D. candidate in governance at Virginia Tech. She graduated cum laude from Marist University with a bachelor’s degree in English and communications and holds a master’s degree, with distinction, in organizational management from Hawaii Pacific University.