Louis Lauter

Prior to joining Beacon, Mr. Lauter served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs where he advised the Secretary of Defense on all legislative matters, developed and pursued strategies to achieve the Department’s legislative priorities and managed congressional engagement across the Department of Defense. He was also responsible for the preparation and confirmation of all Senate confirmed civilian political appointees for the Department. Mr. Lauter also served in the Obama Administration in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs from 2015-2017 as the Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs and the team chief for Acquisitions, Technology and Logistics.

Before joining the Department of Defense, Mr. Lauter served as the vice president for congressional and government affairs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a bipartisan national security think tank. In this role he managed CSIS’s interactions with Congress and the executive branch, providing opportunities for CSIS experts to educate members and staff in a bipartisan setting. Mr. Lauter also analyzed and wrote about congressional activity and trends across a range of national security issues to better inform CSIS and the public on the role of Congress in national security policymaking.

Prior joining CSIS, Mr. Lauter worked on capitol hill for Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and then for Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA) where he supported the Congressman’s defense and foreign policy work on the House Armed Services Committee and the Congressional US-China Working group and managed his energy and natural resources portfolio.

Mr. Lauter is a Senior Associate (non-resident) at CSIS. He holds a master’s degree in international public policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Washington. He has been awarded both the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service and the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service.