About Mark G. McKinnon

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Mark McKinnon is a Partner & Co-Founder of McKinnon Group, LLC, a Washington, D.C. based strategic consulting and lobbying firm. The firm focuses on defense, aerospace, homeland, and financial services clients.

Prior to forming McKinnon Group, Mark was the National Security Advisor to Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) and Senator Richard Shelby (R- AL). In this capacity, he advised the Senators on the topics of defense, intelligence, foreign policy, homeland security, space, and veterans affairs. He also led several appropriations cycles (FY22-FY25), which had a tremendous impact on the State of Alabama.

Prior to serving as the National Security Advisor for Senators Shelby and Britt, Mark served for over two years as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security.  In this role, he advised on intelligence, counterintelligence, security, sensitive activities, and other intelligence-related matters. 

Before joining the Pentagon, Mark spent a decade working in the Intelligence Community, in both a government and private capacity. Most recently, Mark served as a targeting officer responsible for identifying and disrupting terrorist threats to the Homeland and Western Europe. He provided day-to-day operational support to field offices and foreign partners, which required regular and ongoing engagement with intelligence, law enforcement, and security partners across the globe. Mark traveled regularly to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East in support of operational objectives in partnership with foreign partners and allies.

Mark, a Mississippi native, obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi.  He and his wife, Alice, and their two young daughters reside in Alexandria, VA.