WASHINGTON, March 10, 2025 – SMI is pleased to announce that Carla Zeppieri, a former U.S. Navy officer and Capitol Hill veteran who most recently served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for industrial base resilience, has joined the firm as vice president to strengthen our first-in-class defense and national security team.
“Carla has mastered the policy and budget levers of both the executive and legislative branches, and she has played a leading role in the historic investments that are revitalizing our defense industrial base,” said SMI CEO Bill McCann. “We could not be more excited to offer our clients her unsurpassed knowledge and network at this pivotal moment.”
At the Pentagon, Zeppieri was responsible for assessing the health of the defense industrial base and recommending the policies, investments and actions to strengthen capacity and resilience. She oversaw the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) office responsible for making investments via the Defense Production Act and Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment programs.
“SMI has a stellar reputation and strong track record advising business and universities who are developing and producing the most advanced technologies and manufacturing processes for the federal government,” said Zeppieri. “SMI has been at the forefront in integrating some of our nation’s most innovative players with the Department of Defense’s priorities. I am honored to join the team and excited about this new opportunity to help ensure we have a resilient defense industrial base that is the envy of the world.”
Zeppieri previously oversaw acquisition and sustainment in the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s legislative affairs branch, served as a professional staff member on the House Armed Services’ Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, and was military legislative assistant to former HASC member Rep. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii.
Zeppieri has also worked as an in-house lobbyist for Harris Corporation and Raytheon and is a former surface warfare officer in the Navy.
Said McCann: “The Trump administration and bipartisan majorities in Congress are committed to making new investments in sharpening our military edge to deter our enemies. Carla will be a phenomenal asset as SMI helps identify the most effective solutions to ensure the nation has the workforce and supply chains it will need for years to come.”
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.
