Featured in Real Clear Defense, BGR Advisory Board Member Heather Nauert examines the Iranian Stryker hack and why a proactive cyber strategy is critical to national security.
Author: Rae Parsons
BGR Review – March 20th
Included in this week’s BGR Review: Continuing coverage of the midterm elections with a recap of the Illinois primary, an introduction to BGR’s newest Defense Vice President, Max Richards, celebrating Women’s History Month with Be the Brand, and this week’s newsletters.
The BGR Brief – The View From Asia with Ed Rogers
Founding Partner Ed Rogers just returned from the Genron NPO Tokyo Conference with BGR Advisory Board Member Gen. Keith Kellogg. In this week’s BGR Brief, Ed shares his boots on the ground perspective on the shifting dynamics in Asia, from energy security concerns to the massive growth potential for American companies in Southeast Asia.
BGR Welcomes Max Richards as Vice President
Washington, D.C. (March 9, 2026) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, announced today that Max Richards has joined the Defense and Critical Technologies Practice as a Vice President. Max will work with clients on a wide range of defense-related issues including AI, space, cybersecurity and technology.
“We are proud to welcome Max to the team,” Defense and Critical Technologies Practice Head Dan Greenwood said. “During his time on Capitol Hill, Max was involved in some of the biggest policy debates impacting the defense and space industries. He brings a breadth of knowledge and experience that will benefit our clients and the firm.”
Max previously served as Legislative Director for Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO). He previously served as the Senator’s Military Legislative Assistant (MLA) to advise Senator Schmitt as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He also served in key roles for Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Max also worked as a Legislative Assistant for Chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK).
In April 2021, Max completed coursework and graduated from a master’s program in International Security Studies with a concentration in cybersecurity policy at a U.S. Army base in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. The program was a partnership between the German University of the Armed Forces Munich and the U.S. Department of Defense. Course participants were active-duty officers from the Army, Marines, Air Force, and German Military. While pursuing his master’s, Max was selected as a fellow by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, where he received a scholarship to study foreign policy in Germany.
A Texas-native, Max was appointed by then-Governor Perry to serve a one-year term as Student Regent at the University of Texas Board of Regents where he worked with former Admiral William McRaven in McRaven’s role as Chancellor of the UT System.
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The BGR Brief – Appropriations Update with Don Andres
It’s go time for FY 2027 appropriations, but DHS remains shutdown. BGR Vice President Don Andres looks at how the House is moving up its deadlines, the reality of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and why passing spending bills in an election year is such a heavy lift.
BGR Review – March 6th
Included in this week’s BGR Review: Kicking off the midterm election cycle by recapping the Texas and North Carolina primaries, introducing BGR PR’s newest team member, Ally Korpela, the latest on Operation Epic Fury, events to watch out for, and this week’s BGR newsletters.
BGR Welcomes Ally Korpela as Visual Content Strategist
BGR Group is happy to announce that Ally Korpela has joined the Public Relations team as a Visual Content Strategist. Ally excels at transforming client goals into high-impact visual narratives. Her experience with mission-driven organizations ensures that every digital campaign she leads is both strategic and visually compelling.
Midterm Update – March 4th
With Democrats outpacing Republicans in early voting for the first time in nearly two decades and a tightening race for the U.S. Senate, the data points to an expensive and energetic cycle ahead. Read below for BGR’s analysis of last night’s primary elections, including highlights from the Texas and North Carolina races, current polling, and key takeaways.
The BGR Brief – The State of Iran with Lester Munson
In this week’s BGR Brief, Principal and International Practice Head Lester Munson, a former Staff Director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, offers perspective on Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli operation to eliminate the leadership of the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
BGR Brief: State of the Union Address, Sean Cooksey
We are excited to announce the inaugural edition of the BGR Brief, a new series featuring direct Q&As with BGR experts on the most pressing issues in Washington!
Today, BGR Managing Director Sean Cooksey breaks down the logistics and strategy behind tomorrow’s State of the Union address. From the months of preparation to the President’s specific messaging goals for the year ahead, Sean offers his projection of what to expect when the cameras start rolling.