Emma HamiltonSenior Manager, Defense Trade Policy

Emma Hamilton serves as the Senior Manager for Defense Trade Policy at the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), focusing on export controls, trade, and regulatory issues, and acting as the point person for the Defense Trade Committee.

Before joining AIA, Hamilton was an Associate at The Asia Group, where she provided geopolitical and regional expertise to the firm’s defense and aerospace clients.

Hamilton brings several years of government experience to the association. She previously served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy as a Country Director, managing the U.S. defense relationship with Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Island Countries, and Antarctica. In this role, she oversaw alliance and partner issues related to U.S. force posture, bilateral planning, and security cooperation for the Oceania region. She led several engagements with foreign counterparts, including quarterly Five Eyes Defense Ministerial Meetings, the annual Australia-U.S. Ministerial, and the U.S.-New Zealand Defense Policy Dialogue.

Additionally, she served as the Special Assistant to the White House Liaison, advising Department of Defense leadership on personnel decisions and coordinating the hiring process for political appointees. Before working at the Department of Defense, Hamilton was the Legislative Correspondent and Staff Assistant for Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks (IN-05).

Hamilton is a graduate of Indiana University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.