Head of Federal Government Affairs

Axon•Washington, DC

About The Position

As Head of Federal Government Affairs, you will be the strategic quarterback at the center of Axon's federal engagement: mapping our assets, aligning our engagements, and driving a coordinated approach that positions Axon as the trusted technology partner for the agencies that matter most. This isn't a traditional lobbying role. We're looking for someone who brings their own strategic instincts, knows how to connect dots across a complex organization, and has a deep understanding of federal law enforcement culture, stakeholders, and how technology gets adopted — or doesn't — inside agencies like DOJ, DHS, and their components. You'll sit inside the legal organization, closely embed with the business, and engage frequently with Axon's executive team in order to serve as Axon's most important federal convener.

Requirements

~15+ years of relevant experience, with a track record in public service across senior staff, government affairs, or policy roles that reflect the depth above.
Deep Hill roots in the right committees. You've spent meaningful time — as staff, counsel, or legislative aide — on the House or Senate Homeland Security, Judiciary, or Armed Services Committees, or equivalent executive branch roles at DOJ or DHS. You know how these committees work, who the key players are, and how to move things through the legislative process. Think: Staff Director on Homeland Security, military legislative aide to a senior Senator on Intel or Defense, or senior counsel in a DOJ or DHS office.
A practitioner, not just a participant. You've run appropriations and authorization strategies — not watched them from the sidelines. You know what it takes to build bipartisan, bicameral coalitions and how to navigate the annual NDAA and appropriations cycle to get outcomes that matter to a business.
Genuine homeland security or law enforcement fluency. You understand the culture, priorities, and operational realities of federal law enforcement and how these agencies evaluate and adopt technology.
Real strategic horsepower. You don't just execute; you generate ideas, anticipate moves, and see around corners.
A bias for action and outcomes. You measure success in mission outcomes, not meetings attended.
A connector and coordinator. You instinctively map relationships — who knows whom, who has influence where, what the leverage points are — and you're skilled at bringing those connections together in service of a strategic objective.

Responsibilities

Conduct a systematic audit of Axon's federal relationships — internal champions, external advisors, agency allies, Hill contacts, and third-party partners — and build a living picture of our assets and gaps.
Develop and own a multi-year federal government affairs strategy that advances Axon's priorities across the executive branch, relevant Congressional committees, and key interagency processes — with a specific focus on DOJ, DHS, and federal law enforcement components.
Coordinate across Axon's sales, policy, legal, communications, and executive teams to ensure federal outreach is unified, strategic, and non-duplicative. You are the connective tissue.
Build and maintain a high-quality network of relationships with senior officials, Congressional staff, and relevant organizations. Know who matters, and how to move them.
Bring genuine fluency in how federal law enforcement agencies adopt technology, what their cultural and operational constraints are, and how to position Axon's products in ways that resonate with the people making decisions.
Partner closely with the federal sales team to translate government affairs activity into concrete business outcomes — including supporting key procurements and clearing policy barriers.
Direct and coordinate a network of outside government affairs firms, ensuring alignment and accountability across all federal engagement activities.
Track legislative, regulatory, and executive branch developments relevant to Axon's business. Translate what's happening in Washington into clear, actionable intelligence for internal decision-makers.
Serve as a credible, compelling voice for Axon at federal conferences, industry forums, and stakeholder meetings — clearly articulating our mission, our technology, and our value to the agencies we serve.