Kirk Foster, assistant general counsel and director of compliance and privacy at HII Mission Technologies, is the new co-chair of WashingtonExec’s General Counsel & Compliance Council for 2025.
Foster supports Mission Technologies’ chief information officer and chief information security officer as cyber counsel and provides legal support to the Fleet Sustainment Group. He also leads the company’s international compliance and anti-corruption efforts. His background includes senior legal advisory roles in the U.S. and internationally, along with a career in the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
As co-chair, Foster will lead discussions on how the new administration’s executive orders could affect compliance programs, along with supply chain concerns, cybersecurity challenges and other key issues. Below, he shares insights on his experience, his goals as co-chair and the importance of connecting industry leaders with government officials.
Based on your extensive experience, what are some of the focus areas/hot topics you want to discuss with the council this year?
I believe there are myriad topics that a compliance council can focus on in 2025, including the various Executive Orders coming from the Administration and their potential impacts on business operations and compliance programs, changes set forth in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, particularly those related to the supply chain and China, and of course the persistent challenges of cybersecurity, privacy, anti-corruption and fraud.
How will your personal and career experience and expertise within the general counsel & compliance community help lead the council in discussions on trending compliance-related topics?
I believe having worked on both sides of the fence as a naval officer and attorney in senior leadership positions, and now as an in-house counsel with an aerospace defense firm provides me a unique perspective of the challenges and concerns of the government and the private sector. Ultimately my goal is to promote a dialogue with the goal of informing compliance professionals and discussing solutions that are based on law and common sense.
What does it mean for you to be chairperson of this council?
I consider it a privilege and honor and look forward to learning more about WashingtonExec and working with my co-chair Cliff Greenblatt on developing events that are informative and build collegiality among our members.
Do you feel there is great value in connecting industry executives with government officials to discuss topics facing the general counsel & compliance community?
Absolutely there is value in connecting industry executives with government officials. First it is an opportunity for both parties to learn about their respective goals and challenges, and second it is an opportunity to exchange ideas, possibly shape the future, and certainly respond to the concerns and goals of the government. Neither side are mind readers so having frank discussions, within the bounds of protecting proprietary information, can only help industry provide better products and services to enable the government’s various programs and mission sets.
What do you hope to accomplish as chair of this council, and what do you hope councilmembers get out of your leadership?
I believe one of the key goals is to raise awareness about the importance of legal and regulatory compliance to business success, whether it involves a small, medium or large size business entity. A well designed, risk-based compliance program does not have to be a financial black hole. In fact, if a company believes that compliance is expensive, it should consider the expense and ramifications of non-compliance. In short, I look forward to working with J.D. Kathuria and Cliff Greenblatt and expanding the compliance council and its mission to inform and educate.