Federal Government Relations

Kimrey Rhinehardt
Vice President for Federal Relations 

Kimrey is the primary liaison between the University of North Carolina and the federal government.  Kimrey works closely with the congressional delegation and their staff to advocate for university priorities and is the principal point of contact for University partnerships with the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and other critical military partners.  Other duties include developing and implementing the Board of Governors' Federal Agenda, analyzing and influencing federal higher education policy, coordinating the federal government relations efforts for the 17-campuses of the University of North Carolina, and advising the President and Board of Governors on all federal and military issues.

  
Bradley Ballou
Director of Federal Government Relations

Based in Washington, D.C., Bradley provides communication between the University of North Carolina and the federal government.  Bradley works closely with members of Congress, their staff, and federal agency administrators to promote the university’s federal agenda. In addition, Bradley also works closely with higher education associations to shape and respond to legislative, regulatory, and budget actions affecting the University of North Carolina and the higher education community. Other duties include monitoring and analyzing legislation, developing government relations strategy and coordinating the appropriations process for the 17-campuses of the University of North Carolina.

 
Thomas Losordo, Ph.D.
Faculty Advisor for Military Affairs


Dr. Losordo directs the National Security Reach Back project and coordinates faculty efforts in support of civil affairs pre-deployment education.  Dr. Losordo is on leave from his faculty position in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University.

 
Ryan A. Beck
Advisor for Military Affairs

 
Ryan advises the UNC system on Veteran student issues and military affairs issues generally. After separating from the 75th Ranger Regiment in 2004, Ryan graduated with an Associate of Arts from Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC in 2008 and is a May 2010 Peace, War and Defense graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

 
Kathie Sidner 
Defense Applications Engineer
 
 
Gilberto Alvarado
Military Academic Advisor
 

Gilberto provides academic counseling to Fort Bragg service members pursuing a degree at a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina. Gilberto works closely with Fayetteville Technical Community College, John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS), and the University community to enroll qualified Fort Bragg service members in UNC programs of interest.

 
 Logan Cason
Director for Military Education
 
 
 

State Government Relations

 Anita Watkins
Vice President for Government Relations

Anita is the primary liaison between the University of North Carolina and the state government. Anita works closely with the NC General Assembly, the Executive Branch and related staff to advocate for university priorities. Other duties include developing and implementing the Board of Governors’ State Agenda, developing government relations strategy and advising the President and Board of Governors on all state legislative issues.

 

Lesley A. Cates
Director of State Government Relations

Lesley is a state legislative liaison for the University of North Carolina, advocating for university priorities with state elected officials, legislative and executive branch staff.  She works closely with individual campus state relations officers, coordinating government relations efforts for the 17-campuses of UNC.  Other duties include monitoring and analyzing legislation, coordinating legislative reports, developing government relations strategy and communicating with internal General Administration staff about legislative issues.