Washington, D.C.- January 23, 2023 — Strategic Marketing Innovations (SMI), a leading government affairs firm, has hired as director Samuel “Samm” Gillard, an energy storage and critical materials expert with deep experience at the Departments of Energy and Defense, to expand its growing advocacy on behalf of the materials supply chain and recycling.
Most recently, Gillard served as technology development and supply chain manager for DOE’s Vehicle Technologies and Manufacturing Energy and Supply Chains Offices, where he worked on the bipartisan infrastructure law’s $6 billion battery supply chain program and as technical lead for the lithium battery supply chain.
He was the primary author of the Biden Administration’s 2021 100 Day Report on the Battery Supply Chain for high-capacity batteries. He also managed DOE’s efforts in battery recycling, fast charging, battery testing, and the small business research portfolio for battery technology.
“Samm is a distinguished addition to SMI’s elite energy storage/battery team, joining Drew Ronneberg and Pat Davis,” said Ken Wetzel, SMI’s chief operating officer. “It is one of the most successful practices at SMI and Samm is uniquely positioned to power us to the next level.”
During his tenure at DOE, Gillard performed technical reviews for multiple program offices. He also served on the Federal Consortium for Advanced Batteries and led the government efforts to advance battery recycling.
Prior to the DOE, Gillard supported the Defense Logistics Agency’s Battery Research & Development Program, as well as the DLA Strategic Materials Program Office.
Other previous roles include research advisor for intellectual property at Alion Science and Technology and nearly three years as a patent examiner for batteries and fuel cells at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
“I’m excited to join such a great team at SMI and looking forward to the opportunity to working with industry to better navigate the process of funding within the U.S. government to commercialize their technology,” Gillard said.
Gillard is a former signals intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army and veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
He holds a BS in material science and engineering with a specialization in nanotechnology from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Founded in 1993, SMI has been the premier choice in Washington for companies, universities, nonprofits, and industry associations for federal marketing and lobbying services focused on national security, defense, clean energy, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and research and development.
