The Honorable Dr. Kimberly A. McClain was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and sworn in as Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on January 3, 2023. Prior to this role, Dr. McClain served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from January 2021 to January 2023 where she advised the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on legislative and congressional matters. Dr. McClain led the organization’s five divisions in the development and execution of the VA’s congressional strategy in support of the Department’s $300 billion budget and legislative objectives.
Dr. McClain brings over 30 years of experience in the Department of Defense (DoD) and the intelligence community, with deep expertise in aviation, cybersecurity, defense acquisition, government relations, intermestic policy, national security policy, and international security cooperation. From 2019 to 2021, she served as the Director of Air Force Congressional Strategy, acting as the principal advisor on the Department’s congressional engagement strategy. She led a multifunctional team responsible for research, metrics, analysis, and strategic communications, supporting the Air Force’s mission and its $179 billion budget.
Her distinguished career in the Department of Defense began in 1991 as an active-duty Air Force member. Over the course of her career, Dr. McClain has served in various roles and capacities in the defense sector as an Air Force Reservist, career civil servant, and consultant in notable roles such as Senior International Cooperation Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director of the Defense Senior Leader Development Program in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and Advisor for Foreign Policy and Partnerships in South America at U.S. Cyber Command. Dr. McClain is a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve aviator with 29 years of service and a former member of the National Intelligence University Alumni Board. She also served as a Defense Fellow at the National Intelligence University.
In the private sector, Dr. McClain has held leadership roles such as Senior Executive Communications Advisor to the CEO at Accenture Federal Services, Risk Operations Manager at Capital One Financial Services, Investment Banker at Stewart James Financial Services, and Adjunct Professor at Northcentral University.
Dr. McClain holds a Ph.D. in International Business from Northcentral University, a M.S. in Human Relations and International Business from Amberton University, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas. She is a graduate of the National Security Executive Seminar, Air War College, Air Force Command and Staff College, and Air Force Squadron Officer School. Additionally, she holds a Defense Institute for Security Cooperation certification from the Defense Institute of Security Cooperation Studies.