Govini has added a well-known national security communicator and policy professional to its leadership ranks. Russ Read announced on LinkedIn that he has joined the company as Director of Government Relations and Advocacy, stepping into a role focused on expanding Govini’s engagement with policymakers and strengthening the company’s presence across defense and homeland security circles.
Read arrives with a deep background in national security policy, public affairs, and legislative engagement. Most recently, he served as the Assistant Administrator for Strategic Communications and Public Affairs at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Before joining TSA, Read managed legislative priorities for the National Guard Association of the United States, advocating on fighter aircraft recapitalization, Space National Guard initiatives, and equipment modernization. His earlier tenure on Capitol Hill included serving as Communications Director for Rep. Scott Franklin (FL-15), advising on defense, oversight, and national security strategy while coordinating with key House committees.
Read also brings direct DHS experience, having served as a speechwriter for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, helping shape messaging on cybersecurity, immigration, law enforcement, and international threats. His writing and analysis background stretches back even further—he previously covered defense and national security as a journalist and has authored hundreds of articles for national outlets.
Read’s background also includes significant time in journalism and foreign policy advocacy. At the Washington Examiner, he covered national security and the defense industry as a staff writer. His earlier journalism roles included digital and political reporting focused on defense, cyber, and U.S. foreign policy.
Before launching his journalism career, Read served as Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs at the Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET). His work there included briefing congressional offices on Middle East policy, producing analysis on regional security issues, writing policy-focused op-eds, and co-hosting the organization’s “Voice of EMET” podcast. The role sharpened his expertise on Iran, counterterrorism, Israel, and broader Middle East dynamics—knowledge he has carried through his national security-focused career.
He holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Boston University, where he specialized in national security and global political economy, and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from High Point University.
(AI was used in part to facilitate this article.)