Jerry McGinn

Director, Center for the Industrial Base and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Jerry McGinn

Dr. Jerry McGinn is the director of the Center for the Industrial Base and a senior fellow with the Defense and Security Department. He is one of the nation’s leading experts on industrial base, acquisition, government contracting, and security policy issues. Prior to joining CSIS, Jerry served as executive director of the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, publishing over 70 influential reports, white papers, and commentaries. Prior to GMU, Jerry served as the senior career official in the Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy in the Department of Defense (DoD), leading efforts to analyze the capabilities of the defense industrial base. He also directed hundreds of reviews of high-profile mergers and acquisitions as well as transactions before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Before his service in DoD, Dr. McGinn spent a decade in senior defense industry roles at Northrop Grumman, Deloitte Consulting LLP, and QinetiQ North America. Prior to industry, Dr. McGinn served as special assistant to the principal deputy undersecretary for policy in DoD and as a political scientist at RAND. Dr. McGinn is also a widely acclaimed thought leader and has testified numerous times before the U.S. Congress and the UK House of Commons. Dr. McGinn served with distinction as an infantry officer and is a graduate of Ranger and Airborne Schools. He earned a PhD, MS, and MA from Georgetown University as well as a BS from the United States Military Academy.

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Executive Education

All About the Base: Acquisition Crash Course

Dive deep into the acquisition processes and industrial base issues impacting government and industry with exclusive insights from CSIS experts in this dynamic one-day course.

Course Date: May 27, 2026
Registration Closes: May 18, 2026

What is the "Right to Repair?" | All About the Base

All About the Base host and CIB Director Dr. Jerry McGinn talks with Dr. Alexis Lasselle Ross, President of Apex Defense Strategies, on the debates concerning the "Right to Repair" and the competing priorities of innovation, cost mitigation, and sustainment.

Event — March 23, 2026

SBIR and STTR Reauthorization and the Future of Small Business Innovation

The United States Senate has passed legislation to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through fiscal year 2031, though challenges remain to catalyze the long-term growth of small businesses.

Critical Questions by Jerry McGinn, Alek Jovovic, and A.J. Dilts — March 17, 2026

Is the U.S. Running Out of Munitions? | All About the Base

All About the Base host and Center for the Industrial Base Director Jerry McGinn speaks with Tom Karako, Director of the Missile Defense Project, on the state of U.S. munitions stockpiles in light of the strikes against Iran and the need for magazine "breadth" and not simply depth.

Event — March 10, 2026

Small Business, Big Impact | All About the Base

All About the Base's Jerry McGinn hosts the Honorable Emily Murphy, former administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, for a discussion on government programs and incentives to support small business innovation, including SBIR.

Event — February 17, 2026