Margaret BoatnerVice President, National Security Policy
Margaret Boatner is the Vice President of National Security Policy at the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). In this role, she is responsible for developing and executing AIA’s national security and industrial base policy agenda. Boatner brings nearly 15 years of direct experience in shaping DoD acquisition and procurement policy in the Pentagon and working closely with Congressional committees in advancing acquisition reform efforts.
Most recently, Boatner served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Strategy and Acquisition Reform (DASA(SAR)). In this role, she was the Army’s lead executive for the design and implementation of acquisition policy affecting R&D and production of warfighting capabilities. Boatner was also responsible for leading consistent implementation of new statutory authorities affecting Army programs, engaging with Congressional committee staff on legislation affecting the acquisition process, and guiding the development of related acquisition legislative proposals. During her tenure, Boatner orchestrated Army-wide initiatives that overhauled policy on intellectual property, software development and acquisition, industrial base resilience, and led a broad effort to streamline and simplify the acquisition process.
Prior to this role, Boatner spent over ten years in various roles in Army acquisition and contracting. Notably, between 2018 and 2022, Boatner served as Acting DASA(SAR) and Principal Director within the Office of the DASA(SAR). Between 2015 and 2016, Boatner served as Director of Initiatives for the Army’s Deputy Acquisition Executive where she directed special projects, including managing an effort on behalf of the DoD to develop, draft, and coordinate a series of legislative proposals to streamline the acquisition system by eliminating redundant processes and documentation. Between 2011 and 2015, Boatner served as Special Assistant to the Army’s senior contracting executive, where she helped to implement new metrics for Army contracting organizations designed to reduce procurement timelines and promote best practices.
Boatner holds a Master of Business Administration from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Mary Washington. She lives with her husband and son in Alexandria, VA.
