IonQ Hires Michael Best for Quantum Computing Advocacy

Why It Matters

IonQ Inc., a quantum computing company, has hired Michael Best Strategies LLC to lobby on its behalf. The new registration, filed on Thursday, August 20, marks the firm's formal entry into federal advocacy work on quantum computing policy.

Michael Best Strategies LLC registered five lobbyists to represent IonQ Inc.: Erik Berdy, a Partner; Brittan Specht, a Senior Director with prior congressional staff experience across 27 House Republicans; Lucia Alonzo, a Principal with prior government experience; Preston Hill, a Senior Director with prior government experience; and Jason Yaworske, a Senior Director who previously worked on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

By The Numbers

IonQ has pursued federal funding and support for quantum computing research. The company secured a $13.4 million contract with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory in September 2022 for ion trap quantum computing hardware research and development. It also secured a $5.7 million contract from the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security to design a networked quantum computing system for the Department of Defense (DOD).

Federal agencies spent approximately $1 billion on quantum research and development in 2022. The FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act recommended $100 million for quantum computing. Earlier appropriations efforts included funding for quantum computing programs at the Department of Energy, DOD, and National Science Foundation.