Jim Meltsner
Jim Meltsner brings a deep understanding of Capitol Hill legislative, administrative and political processes, built over a 25 -plus year career in government relations. Jim is currently President and principal of Meltsner Strategies, providing lobbying and strategic consulting services to a diverse portfolio of corporate and non-profit clients. Time after time, he has combined this knowledge with sharp strategic insight to design and execute comprehensive legislative strategies that achieve objectives.
Prior to founding Meltsner Strategies, Jim’s most recent position was Vice President of Government Relations and Communications for Alenia North America. In this position Jim led a team of lobbyists, outside consultants and a public relations staff to represent this Italian aerospace company in its interactions with the Congress and the media.
Prior to joining Alenia, Jim worked for Northrop Grumman Corporation, which culminated in the role of Vice President for Congressional Affairs. Jim achieved an extraordinary string of legislative successes. He worked across the entire Northrop Grumman portfolio on a broad range of defense issues, and also oversaw the company’s tax and trade legislative portfolio. In this role, he served on the tax committees at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers. On defense programs, Jim played key roles in countless campaigns, including, B-2, Joint STARS, LAIRCM/DIRCM, Global Hawk/BAMS, Ship Building, and Air Force Tanker Replacement to name just a few. In the tax arena he consistently secured tax provisions that substantially reduced the corporation’s tax liabilities. He devised a legislative plan that resulted in the amendment of Section 936 of the tax code to allow a wholly-owned subsidiary in Puerto Rico to survive, and that enabled the company to continue to claim a deduction under that section. He shared leadership of a broad industry coalition that developed an alternative R&D tax credit enabling Northrop Grumman to again claim the R&D Tax Credit. Jim also organized and directed a defense industry coalition to repeal discriminatory tax treatment limiting defense-related export opportunities under the Foreign Sales Corporation (FSC).
At Northrop Grumman, Jim also assisted in managing of the company’s $1.4M-per-cycle Political Action Committee. He helped create the PAC’s budget, participated in fundraisers and assisted in PAC recruitment and retention.
Earlier in his career, Jim was Vice President and General Counsel at the Evans Group, a D.C. lobbying firm, where he represented the Federal Republic of Cyprus, trade associations, and also worked on behalf of clients on tax matters. Jim was also a Presidential Appointee in the Administration of George H.W. Bush, where he served at the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Export Administration as the Director of Congressional Affairs. He was also the acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Legislative Affairs.
Jim earned his law degree at George Washington University, and his undergraduate degree at Colby College. He is a member of the District of Colombia and Maryland Bars. Jim was named "Top Lobbyist" by The Hill newspaper. He is an avid woodworker and collector of old tools.
