Greg Lankler joined Thorn Run in November 2019 to lead the firm’s national security and intelligence community practice. After spending more than 20 years working in the U.S. House of Representatives and liaising with nearly every department of the federal government, Mr. Lankler has dedicated most of the last decade helping large and small defense contractors, startups, Fortune 500 corporations, non-profits, and other stakeholders navigate the often opaque congressional appropriations process.
Before joining the private sector, Mr. Lankler served for more than ten years on the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee. During this time, he managed multiple portfolios including: the research and development, procurement, and special access programs for the Air Force, Central Intelligence Agency, and Special Operations Command; the information technology programs for the Department of Defense, Military Services, and Intelligence Community; and the acquisition programs of the Defense-Wide Agencies and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. While on the Subcommittee staff, Mr. Lankler served four different chairmen during both Republican and Democrat majorities.
Mr. Lankler’s experience in appropriations matters extends well beyond issues of national security. He has represented clients with interests before every one of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee’s twelve subcommittees and has a long-standing record of success in achieving client objectives through creative strategies. His results are evident in funding and report language included in the annual appropriations bills, policy recommendations carried in authorization measures, and program manager priorities submitted annually in the President’s budget request.
Mr. Lankler not only possesses a thorough understanding of the appropriations process, but also a unique understanding of the Members and staffers whose viewpoints, goals, and decisions ultimately determine congressional appropriations and authorizations, federal acquisitions, and national security and domestic policy. Prior to his time with the House Appropriations Committee, Mr. Lankler worked for Representative Bill Young (R-FL) from 1990 to 2001 and served as his Legislative Director for the five years prior to Mr. Young appointing him to the Defense Subcommittee in 2001. During this time, he gained an in-depth understanding of the inner workings of congressional offices, the skills necessary to successfully influence individual Members of Congress, and experience advocating on behalf of constituent companies before the various federal departments and agencies.
Mr. Lankler earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Delaware. He is a frequent guest-lecturer on the appropriations process for Georgetown University’s Government Affairs Institute and has spoken at the Air Force’s Understanding the Business-Acquisition Relationship Executive Seminar for Air Force acquisition personnel.
