The Professional Services Council has promoted Stephanie Kostro, acting president of PSC, to president and appointed Steve Harris, a seasoned federal leader, as vice president for defense and intelligence.
PSC said Thursday Kostro will provide strategic direction to PSC and its industry engagement and advocacy efforts amid evolving federal priorities.
“It’s an honor to lead PSC at a time when the partnership between industry and government is more important than ever,” said Kostro. “Our member companies play a vital role in supporting federal missions, and I look forward to deepening our advocacy and engagement across all levels of government.”
Harris will oversee PSC’s defense and intelligence initiatives by offering thought leadership and support to member companies working with national security agencies.
“I am thrilled to join PSC and contribute to its mission of strengthening the government-industry partnership,” said Harris. “The defense and intelligence sectors are facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities, and I look forward to working with our members to help address them.”
Stephanie Kostro’s Career Background
Prior to her current position, Kostro took on the role of acting PSC president in May after serving as executive VP for policy at the trade association representing the professional services and government technology industry.
She has over two decades of experience in the U.S. government and industry, bringing to PSC knowledge in federal procurement policy and acquisition regulations, public-private partnerships, and government processes and programs.
Before joining PSC in 2021, Kostro was a principal at a government relations and consulting firm.
She spent five years as a senior fellow and director of the Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Program at the national security think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies and served for a year as a State Department contractor at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
Her government career included time as a senior professional staff member and policy director on the House Armed Services Committee. She also held various roles at the Department of Defense from 1998 to 2005.
The Cornell University communications graduate has a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Steve Harris’ Career Highlights
Harris has 28 years of federal service in cybersecurity, national security and acquisition.
Before PSC, he was a Senior Executive Service member and the deputy executive assistant director for infrastructure security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. He held other senior positions at CISA, including acting executive assistant director for infrastructure security and acting deputy director for the agency.
The newly appointed PSC official held various positions at DOD, including deputy for policy at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. He also held contracting and acquisition roles at Naval Air Systems Command and the Navy International Programs Office.
The St. Mary’s College of Maryland graduate has a master’s degree in contract management from the Florida Institute of Technology.
