Thomas Lankford

Tom Lankford brings more than two decades of defense and foreign policy experience to VSConsulting Inc.  His diverse client portfolio has included Fortune 50 companies, small and disadvantaged businesses, foreign governments, charitable organizations, educational institutions, and joint ventures.

Mr. Lankford provides comprehensive, as well as issue specific, consulting such as requirements assessment; opportunity identification; capture strategy development; legislative, programmatic, and budgetary analysis, and partnership development.

Over the years, Mr. Lankford has advised clients on a broad range of issues, such as defense procurement, research and development, world health, alternative energy, information technology, and traumatic brain injury.

In addition to his consulting work with VSConsulting, Mr. Lankford is a registered Federal lobbyist with Van Scoyoc Associates Inc.

Mr. Lankford went into private practice after more than nine years service in the U.S. Senate, including seven years with Sen. Bob Smith.  He served as Acting Legislative Director and Senior Policy Advisor to Sen. Smith, where he managed daily legislative operations, including floor and committee activity, and coordinated the formulation and implementation of the Senator’s legislative agenda. 

Mr. Lankford is best known for his work as Sen. Smith’s Personal Representative to the Armed Services Committee, where he served as principal national security advisor and liaison to Committee staff, the Defense Department, the State Department, National Security Council, the Central Intelligence Agency, aerospace industry, and international diplomatic representatives.  He was Sen. Smith’s lead staff representative through seven complete defense authorization and appropriations cycles.  He also served as Legislative Assistant for Defense to Sen. Gordon Humphrey.

A native of Penfield, N.Y., Mr. Lankford earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and a Master of Arts in International Transactions from George Mason University.  He is married with two children and lives in Fairfax Station, Va.