Christopher L. Minakowski is a Partner at ACG, where he represents clients before Congress, executive agencies, and independent regulatory bodies in Washington, DC. As a lobbyist, Mr. Minakowski has helped clients secure hundreds of millions in federal appropriations, authorizations, and grants, and worked directly with agency regulators to draft federal rules that reflect industry concerns in defense, tech, energy, international trade, and other sectors. Chris uses the annual National Defense Authorization Act and the congressional appropriations process to assist clients seeking to develop long-term business and policy relationships with the Defense Department and other agencies, with a record of moving good ideas to programs of record and budgeted priorities.

Chris has represented private and public companies ranging from venture backed startups to prime contractors, industry associations, and educational institutions, providing an end-to-end business solution to companies seeking to engage with a government customer. Using his impressive network of contacts developed over the course of nearly three decades in and around Capitol Hill and the federal government, Chris connects clients with the right Members of Congress, key staff, and agencies officials who can move policy priorities forward. Known for pairing strategic insight with disciplined execution, Chris designs and runs multi-year legislative and regulatory campaigns that translate business priorities into real outcomes—funding, authorizations, statutory language, and rulemakings that reflect industry concerns.

Prior to joining ACG, Chris was founder and principal partner of Starboard Government Affairs where he represented clients in energy and defense matters, as well as serving as Vice President at a premier boutique defense firm. He has also served in a leadership position at a prominent Washington think tank and was a senior lobbyist at the Arlington firm of Alcalde & Fay. Before private practice, Chris worked on Capitol Hill as Legislative Director for a senior member of Congress from California.

A native of Pennsylvania, Chris holds a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and a B.A. from Pennsylvania State University. A Californian at heart, he is also an avid surfer, sailor, and fly fisherman who is currently exiled in the Washington, DC area with his three children.