Leslee Gilbert is a Vice President at Van Scoyoc Associates with an extensive background in higher education, research, technology development and politics. She has over 20 years hands-on experience in the Washington policy-making process, and over 25 years of experience working in and with institutions of higher education.
At VSA, Dr. Gilbert has developed a practice that focuses on research, development and competitiveness in fields such as aerospace, defense, cybersecurity, information technology, basic and applied science, environmental policy, and energy.
Before joining VSA, she was Majority Staff Director and Counsel of the House of Representatives’ Science, Space, and Technology Committee, the primary committee for overseeing research and development in agencies such as NSF, NASA, NIST, NOAA, EPA, and the Departments of Energy, Homeland Security, and Transportation. She played a central role in developing and implementing Federal science, technology, and civil space policy, including NASA reauthorization bills, the Energy Independence and Security Act, and America COMPETES.
Prior to coming to Washington, Dr. Gilbert was an Assistant Professor at St. Mary’s University in Minnesota, where she also served as a faculty officer. She has published a variety of articles for academic and general audiences. She holds a B.A. from Texas A&M University, an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky, and a J.D. from the Washington College of Law at American University. She is a member of the Maryland Bar. When she is not working, she enjoys flying her single-engine plane around the region.