American Defense International

What American Defense International does

American Defense International (ADI), founded in 1994 and headquartered at 1101 K Street NW in Washington, D.C., is a privately held government relations, business development, and strategic consulting firm focused on the defense and homeland security sectors. The firm delivers four integrated service lines — Government Relations, Business Development, Strategic Consulting, and Program Development & Execution — to help clients navigate federal procurement, influence defense authorization and appropriations, protect program funding, and manage multi-year DoD programs.

ADI's value is produced by a bench of former senior government officials, military officers, congressional chiefs of staff, and acquisition program managers (including retirees from the Pentagon, U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, as well as former staffers for members of the Senate Armed Services and House Foreign Affairs committees). The firm is led by Chairman Van D. Hipp, Jr. and President/CEO Michael Herson, supported by a Board of Advisors of retired generals and admirals.

The firm operates a sales-led, direct-engagement professional services model. Revenue is generated through negotiated consulting retainers from defense contractors, homeland security organizations, universities with defense research programs, foreign military clients, and select government entities; the firm publicly references work for 75+ clients across six countries including Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, SpaceX, and the United Arab Emirates Embassy. Marketing is driven by leadership visibility on Fox News, Defense News, and industry podcasts, plus word-of-mouth referrals; pricing is bespoke and not publicly disclosed. ADI has no disclosed funding rounds, no subsidiaries, and no technology products — it is a pure-play expertise and access business.

Name

American Defense International

Legal name

American Defense International, Inc.

Website

https://americandefense.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

American Defense International is a Washington, D.C.-based government relations and strategic consulting firm that helps defense contractors, universities, and foreign clients navigate federal procurement, influence defense budgets, and secure program funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Consulting & Government Relations

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Defense Acquisition, Procurement & Contracting (BPAIAHAB)

Keywords

• Defense government relations
• Federal lobbying consulting
• Business development advisory
• Strategic consulting services
• Homeland security consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Lobbying Services: ADI generates revenue through professional consulting fees for government relations, business development, and strategic consulting services provided to defense contractors and homeland security organizations seeking to influence federal procurement, budget decisions, and policy outcomes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

American Defense International is a Washington, D.C.-based government relations, business development, and strategic consulting firm serving defense contractors, homeland security organizations, universities with defense research programs, and foreign military clients. ADI helps clients navigate federal procurement, defense budget and appropriations processes, and congressional decision-making through a team of former senior government officials, military officers, and congressional aides.

Product overview

American Defense International is a services-based firm offering a unified portfolio of three core service offerings: Government Relations, Business Development, Strategic Consulting, and Program Development & Execution. These services are delivered as an integrated suite of consulting capabilities designed to help clients build and manage their Defense and Homeland Security practices. The company employs former senior government officials, military officers, and congressional aides to provide government affairs strategy, program development execution, business development roadmaps, and strategic advice to clients seeking to work with federal agencies, particularly the Department of Defense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Government Relations

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 billion secured for client defense program through contract competition win and Congressional funding protection
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Board of Advisors - Military & Defense ExpertscoreOthersADI maintains a Board of Advisors composed of retired senior military officers and government officials including: Colonel Waldo W. (Chip) Brooks (U.S. Army, Retired) - export control expert; Brig Gen Carl (Ferris) Buhler - Air Force logistics and maintenance expert; LTG Richard (Dick) P. Formica - Army Space and Missile Defense expert; Rear Admiral (retired) James Basil (JB) Godwin III - Naval aviation and program management; Brigadier General Billy Thompson (USAF, Retired) - Air Force pilot and legislative liaison; Rear Admiral Chris Weaver - Navy installations expert; Dr. Dallas Hack - combat casualty care research; and other defense and national security specialists.
• Defense & Aerospace ReportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADI President Michael Herson is a regular roundtable participant on the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell. The podcast covers government, military and aerospace leaders, lawmakers, industry executives and analysts that shape national security and aerospace decision making.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Large international law and lobbying firm with one of the largest federal government relations practices, including a dedicated national security and defense team. Directly comparable to ADI in the defense-lobbying service line but operates as a much broader, multi-practice incumbent.
• Holland & Knight: Large national law firm with a substantial federal government relations and defense practice. Overlaps with ADI in defense lobbying services but operates as a broad incumbent across many practice areas and geographies.

Direct peers

• Cassidy & Associates: Washington, D.C. government relations firm focused on defense, transportation, and technology clients, widely regarded as one of ADI's closest direct competitors in the defense influence space, with a similarly bipartisan, ex-government professional model.
• Van Scoyoc Associates: Boutique D.C. government relations firm representing defense, science, and technology clients before Congress and federal agencies. Highly comparable to ADI in client mix, service model, and focus on federal R&D and defense procurement influence.
• Cornerstone Government Affairs: Bipartisan government affairs firm with a strong defense and homeland security practice, providing strategic consulting, legislative advocacy, and appropriations support — directly overlapping ADI's core service offering and target client base.
• BGR Group: Bipartisan lobbying and government relations firm with a prominent defense and national security practice, serving defense contractors and foreign governments. Comparable to ADI in both the client mix (defense primes, foreign clients) and the advocacy/consulting delivery model.
• Mehlman Consulting: Bipartisan government relations and lobbying firm with strong defense, health, and tech practices, founded by former Hill and administration staff. Direct competitor to ADI in defense and homeland security advocacy with a similar boutique, ex-government model.
• Subject Matter: Strategic communications and government affairs firm with deep defense, homeland security, and intelligence community expertise. Closely comparable to ADI in serving defense primes on policy, communications, and congressional engagement.
• Forbes Tate Partners: Bipartisan government relations and public affairs firm representing defense, technology, and energy clients. Direct competitor to ADI in defense and federal procurement advocacy with a similar integrated lobbying and strategic communications offering.
• Tiber Creek Group: Boutique D.C. lobbying firm focused on defense, intelligence, and national security clients, founded by former senior congressional staff. Closely comparable to ADI in client profile, service mix, and reliance on the personal relationships of senior ex-government staff.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ADI_Inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/AmericanDefenseInt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-defense-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Defense International