In this episode, host Mike Shanley sits down with Steve Harris, Vice President for Defense and Intelligence at the Professional Services Council (PSC). Drawing on his decades of experience in government, including at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Steve shares insights on how PSC bridges industry and government to strengthen the defense industrial base.

They discuss:

• How associations like PSC help government and industry collaborate effectively
• Why acquisition reform, industrial base capacity, and AI-energy alignment are top priorities for 2025
• What attendees can expect at PSC's 7th Annual Defense Conference on October 30th, including featured speakers and panel highlights
• Practical advice for how government and industry leaders can make the most of conferences and build meaningful connections

Whether you're a government professional, a large defense prime, or a small business entering the federal market, this episode offers practical perspective on how PSC drives engagement, advocacy, and insight across the defense sector.

RESOURCES:

PSC Defense Conference - Registration Link: https://defense.pscouncil.org/

PSC Defense Conference - Link to Sponsors: https://defense.pscouncil.org/sponsors

Learn more about PSC: https://www.pscouncil.org/psc

PSC Vision Conference - December 1 -3, 2025: https://vision.pscouncil.org/

Connect with Steve Harris on LinkedIn: / steve-harris-vp

Connect with Mike Shanley on LinkedIn: / gov-market-growth

BIO: Steve Harris, Vice President of Defense and Intelligence, PSC

Steve Harris became Vice President for Defense and Intelligence at the Professional Services Council (PSC) on June 9, 2025. He brings more than 28 years of federal service, including positions at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DoD), along with extensive expertise in interagency collaboration, public-private partnerships, international policy, and acquisition.

Before joining PSC, Harris was a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) and served as the Deputy Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In this capacity, he led CISA's efforts to secure the nation's critical infrastructure in partnership with government and private-sector stakeholders. He also held several other senior roles at CISA and its predecessor organization, including Acting Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security, Acting Deputy Director for CISA, Acting Assistant Secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate's (NPPD) Office of Infrastructure Protection, and Deputy Director of NPPD's Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis.

Earlier in his career, Harris held various positions within the Department of Defense. He served as Deputy for Policy at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he developed and implemented international policy for Foreign Military Sales and security cooperation programs. He also held contracting and acquisition roles at the Naval Air Systems Command and the Navy International Programs Office.

Harris has received numerous awards for his public service, including the Presidential Rank Award – Meritorious Executive, the DHS Secretary's Silver Medal for Meritorious Service, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service.

He holds a Master of Science in Management/Contract Management from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary's College of Maryland.

LEARN MORE:

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/

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