William (Bill) Bates, Founding Partner
Bill Bates is a founding partner of Washington Navigators strategic consulting firm in Washington, DC. He previously served as Executive Vice President of the Council on Competitiveness and was the founding Executive Director of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils (GFCC). He is a frequent national and international speaker on competitiveness and innovation topics, ranging from education to technology policy to advanced manufacturing. In his ongoing work with the Council, now as a Senior Advisor, he provides policy analysis and strategic advice to the 150 CEOs, university presidents, lab directors, and labor leaders that comprise the Council’s membership.
He previously served as Director of Government Relations for USTelecom. Before that, he was Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to House Commerce Committee Member Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA), where he advised her on a wide range of technology issues.
Bill currently serves as a Strategic Advisor to the Council on Higher Education as a Strategic Asset and as a Member of UT Austin’s Energy Advisory Board and Marquette University’s Corporate Engagement External Advisory Board.
Bill holds an MA in Government from Johns Hopkins University and a BA in Government and History from Cornell University.
A. Scott Sudduth, Esq, Founding Partner
Scott Sudduth, a founding partner of Washington Navigators, has extensive experience at the intersection of national politics and higher education. He spent 30 years as a member of the senior management teams at four of the nation’s premier comprehensive research universities: the University of California System, the University of Chicago, The University of Texas System, and The Texas A&M University System.
Sudduth has successfully represented clients before both Congressional and agency investigations, including extensive witness preparation for oversight hearings.
He managed all aspects of their federal governmental relations advocacy and outreach related to education, research, and local impact. His expertise includes the DOE and NNSA national laboratories, having served on the management teams of Argonne, Fermilab, Lawrence Berkeley, and the nuclear national security labs Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore.
Sudduth’s extensive Capitol Hill experience includes working for Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) and Representative Pete Geren (D-TX). He has a law degree from Catholic University and a B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin.
Grady Bourn, Senior Vice President
With more than 25 years of public policy experience, Grady brings a hands-on understanding of legislative affairs, appropriations development and execution, strategic planning, staff management, and effective communication at the highest levels of government. As a team player, consensus builder, and collaborative problem solver, he clearly articulates complex issues to diverse audiences and leads large strategic initiatives.
Grady’s 25-year career on Capitol Hill included working for Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) as Senior Legislative Assistant and Rep. John Carter (R-TX) as Legislative Director. In both offices, he worked closely with the Appropriations Committee, Member offices, military leadership, agency officials, and constituent stakeholders. He successfully shepherded numerous community project funding requests and several pieces of legislation into law.
Grady earned a BA in History from UCLA.
Dr. Anna Quider, Research Development Advisor
Dr. Anna Quider brings over 15 years of experience and award-winning leadership spanning higher education, the federal government, and the nonprofit sector to help clients define and achieve their strategic goals. As a former professional astrophysicist, Anna unites a systems-thinking, analytical approach with enthusiasm and creativity to support clients in co-creating unique solutions to their challenges and driving measurable results. She guides clients through complex issues and ambiguity, with particular strengths across the science, technology, innovation, and higher education sectors; federal government processes and engagement; program and process optimization; and stakeholder engagement. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are Anna’s foundational values, and she utilizes a DEI lens for her engagements.
Anna’s leadership includes service on several nonprofit and advisory boards:
- Lead STEM Evaluator and Member, Washington, DC Regional Selection Committee, Marshall Scholarship (appointed by UK Ambassador to the United States)
- Board of Directors, Association of Marshall Scholars
- Chair-Elect, Forum on Physics and Society of the American Physical Society
- Board of Visitors, Frederick Honors College of the University of Pittsburgh
Kyle Simpson
Kyle Simpson has worked for decades in industry and government on energy and environmental policy, laws, and regulations, and developing projects. Mitigating climate change, education, community engagement and increasing value are forefront in his work on clean energy system integration and project development. Kyle has managed his own companies, lead the energy and environment consulting practice in several law and policy firms, and held executive positions in large energy and construction companies. While serving at the U.S. Department of Energy as Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Associate Deputy Secretary for Energy Programs, Kyle developed and managed domestic and international energy policy. He was responsible for the energy R&D programs for natural gas, renewable energy, nuclear energy, and energy efficiency and oversaw the management of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the power marketing administrations. He has helped to create and worked on major U.S. and international environmental and energy initiatives to increase resource and product value, minimize the environmental impact of energy production and use, integrate systems for the use of renewable and natural gas resources and technologies, and make the production, delivery, and use of energy more efficient.
Kyle holds a BA in Political Science and Government from Brown University.
Michelle Lynne Farmer, Program Manager
Michelle Farmer is a seasoned professional with over two decades of work experience in various fields, including government, higher education, non-profit organizations, and law offices. During this time, she has served in various capacities, such as Business Administrator at the University of Chicago Office of Federal Relations, Governance Administrator for the American Astronomical Society, and Manager of Capture and Proposals for a government consulting firm. Her expertise lies in a diverse range of areas, such as project and program management, business development, social media content, HR, proposal management, contracts management, staffing operations, strategic planning, and grant administration.
Michelle holds an MBA and MS in HR Management from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from Stevenson University. She is actively involved in philanthropic activities and serves on the Board of Directors for Feeding the Fosters, a non-profit that assists foster children and families.