Damian Kunko

Role: Speaker

Damian Kunko, Senior Vice President, is a government relations expert who has been assisting companies, trade associations, and universities develop federal funding and policy strategies since 1996. Damian’s specific expertise is assisting clients develop new technologies and creating policies that incentivize their deployment in the Energy and Defense sectors. In 2005, he lobbied for the first ever federal recognition of wave and tidal energy technologies. He also co-founded the Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition which lobbied to create the DOE Water Power program in 2007. During his career, Damian has secured over $1 billion in federal funding for clients. He has extensive experience advancing public policy and federal financing initiatives for a variety of industries including: offshore/undersea energy, propulsion, security systems, water power, wildfire resiliency, advanced materials (composites and specialty alloys) for ground, ship and aerospace systems, advanced/additive manufacturing, medical research, and environmental technologies. Prior to joining SMI, Damian lobbied for a variety of rural telecommunications, mobile medical, and information systems clients. He also served on the staff of a Member of Congress from Washington State. Damian holds a B.A. in Political Science from Washington State University and served in the U.S. Marine Corps.