Richard J. Ward, III

Richard regularly works with clients to shape federal legislative and regulatory strategies, engage senior policymakers in Congress and across the executive branch, and position companies and coalitions to succeed in high-stakes policy debates involving emerging technologies and essential infrastructure. He has advised data center, technology, and advanced infrastructure companies on AI-related electricity demand, permitting issues, power availability, and federal policy affecting large-load growth.

At Venable, Richard also advises clients and coalitions on transportation and mobility policy, including issues involving vehicle data access, digital mobility, privacy, connected technologies, and drone-related federal policy. He is well-versed in drone, beyond visual line of sight, and counter-UAS policies affecting critical infrastructure and transportation systems. He serves as executive director of the American Vehicle Owners Alliance, helping lead coalition strategy and federal engagement on vehicle data access, consumer choice, and innovation across the mobility ecosystem.

Richard’s work frequently involves helping clients build and manage multi-stakeholder coalitions, align business and policy strategy, and engage policymakers on issues related to commercial growth, infrastructure investment, and national security. He is particularly experienced in matters requiring coordination across industry, government, and trade associations to develop durable policy frameworks and advance complex legislative objectives having to do with national-security-related infrastructure risks, including drone threats, critical minerals and supply-chain vulnerabilities, and strategic technology dependencies.

Before joining Venable, Richard spent more than a decade at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), where he led federal affairs strategies advancing the electric sector’s priorities on cyber and grid security, resilience, communications, privacy, and drones. He also served as the staff lead for the CEO-led Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC), which serves as the principal liaison between the U.S. electric power sector and the federal government on national security and grid resilience. In that role, he worked closely with senior leaders across industry and government, including the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Commerce (DOC), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the White House National Security Council, and other critical infrastructure stakeholders.

Prior to EEI, Richard served as communications advisor to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and held multiple roles in the White House under President George W. Bush. That experience continues to inform his work helping clients navigate the political, legislative, and executive-branch dynamics shaping federal policy.