From the halls of Congress to the E-ring, and from the field to the boardroom, Mike Shupp – a retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel – provides clients with a rare blend of senior combat leadership, legislative affairs experience at the highest military levels, and a comprehensive understanding of federal acquisition and international sales policies. As a Vice President at Van Scoyoc Associates, he is a leader of the firm’s defense practice, putting his skills and credentials to use for national security, homeland security, Veterans affairs, and international clients.
At VSA, Mike serves as a pathfinder for clients looking to bring forward their offerings to the government. His work entails strategic planning, designing advocacy efforts, establishing requirements, obtaining funding, and supporting procurements. He has successfully represented organizations involved in health, information technology, shipbuilding, maintenance, unmanned systems, as well as logistics and transportation.
Before joining Van Scoyoc Associates, Mike spent 27 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Throughout his decorated military career, he led our forces or participated in military operations in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, he commanded the main ground effort during the Battle of Fallujah, and after his regimental combat team cleared that insurgent-occupied city during the largest urban battle since the Korean Conflict, Mike was in charge of the reconstruction of the city and their participation in Iraq’s first free elections in 2005.
Between field assignments, Mike obtained his Department of the Navy Program Manager and Security Assistance credentials while managing the Foreign Military sale of 1,100 Light Armored Vehicles to Saudi Arabia, and serving as the Chief of Staff for the Nation’s urgent program to counter the enemy’s deadly use of improvised explosive devices in Iraq. Mike also served as the Marine Corps Director of Legislative Affairs for the House of Representatives and later as the principal advisor on legislative affairs to Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Reared in Bethlehem, Pa., Mike earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the Virginia Military Institute and Master’s degrees in Business Management from Webster University and in Military Studies from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He graduated from the School of Advanced Warfighting and numerous other military specialty schools. He was named an honorary graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy’s Class of 1989 for his dedicated service as a Company Officer in the Brigade of Midshipmen.
