Chris Lehman Washington, DC

Chris Lehman is a seasoned leader with deep expertise in defense policy, industrial base strategy, and consulting. He most recently served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Capital at the Department of Defense, leading the development and implementation of first-of-its-kind financial tools for the Department of Defense to strengthen the industrial base and scale critical technologies for national security. Prior to this role, he was a Senior Manager at EY focusing on strategy and supply chain work for commercial and government clients.

Previously, Chris served as the Director of the Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Program, managing an expansive portfolio of investments to enhance critical industrial base capabilities for national defense. Chris revitalized and significantly expanded the use of DPA authorities to strengthen supply chains in strategic sectors such as critical minerals, microelectronics, space, shipbuilding and kinetic capabilities. Chris also supported the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, working in coordination with the interagency, DoD leadership and industry to rapidly expand the domestic medical industrial base and help stabilize the defense industrial base during the national emergency. He also served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, where he advised on trade policy, industrial base investments, and international engagement initiatives.

In addition to his government service, Chris has worked as a strategy consultant advising clients in the commercial aerospace, defense, and federal markets. Chris started his career as a Marine Officer on active duty and continues to serve as a Marine reservist. He is a founding member of the Marine Innovation Unit.

Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Yale College and an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.