About Diamond Advocacy
From our founder...
I've been in the lobbying business for more than 20 years, and in that time I've been blessed with many wonderful clients. Most, but not all, of them are in the defense and security field, so much of my work has been in support of America's national security and our brave military families. It is a very humbling and rewarding way to earn a living.
Lobbying is first and foremost a people business, built on relationships and trust. In my years in DC, I have worked closely with some of the very best lobbying professionals across multiple fields. Because of these relationships, I am able to put together a team of professionals to handle any need a client may have. In our business, your clients need to know that you will always represent them with absolute integrity. At the same time, the legislators and staffers you deal with also need to know that you will always tell them the truth. Your reputation is everything, and your word is your bond.
Because I believe that, I am comfortable giving my word on this… If you choose to hire Diamond Advocacy as your lobbyist, we will never forget the trust you place in us. We will work every day to pursue the goals we set together, and we will always conduct ourselves in a way that will make you proud you chose to work with us.
— Mike Barbera
About Mike...
Mike Barbera is the founder of Diamond Advocacy. He brings extensive high-level lobbying, political, and public relations experience to his client work. While primarily known for his defense work - which includes long client relationships with major defense contractors, suppliers, and non-traditional defense firms - he has also successfully represented many non-defense clients. These include several national trade associations, colleges and universities, and companies in the energy, resources, and transportation fields.
Mike has a history of legislative successes for his clients, including in the authorization process (most prominently in the National Defense Authorization Act) as well as the annual appropriations process. He has also led the advocacy efforts for several industry coalitions concerned with significant policy priorities.
Prior to starting Diamond Advocacy, Mike was a Senior Partner at ACG Advocacy, where he led the firm's defense and homeland security practice areas. Before that he was Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Relations at MGB Ltd., a boutique lobbying firm specializing in defense and homeland security issues.
In his career on Capitol Hill, Mike served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA). In this role, he was responsible for overseeing all of the Congressman's legislative, political, and communications efforts — including his work as a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. Prior to that he served as Weldon's press secretary and worked at several public relations firms. An accomplished writer, Mike's work won the prestigious American Communicator Award for opinion writing.
Mike graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in history. He was captain of the Williams baseball team, and is now leading an alumni group that is raising funds for a new baseball-softball complex on campus. He lives in Alexandria with his wife, Harmony, and their children. They are active members of Nativity Lutheran Church in Alexandria, where Mike is an usher and serves on several parish committees.
An active volunteer, Mike is involved in several community activities. He is a baseball coach for Fort Hunt Little League and a basketball coach Fort Hunt Youth Association, and is a head coach for the Mount Vernon Mavericks travel baseball program. In 2011, he founded DC Grays Baseball, a non-profit which runs the DC Grays MVP youth baseball/softball program for kids in under-resourced areas of DC. DC Grays Baseball also sponsors the DC Grays summer college baseball team in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League.
