Richard Lukas

Legislative Director

Richard Lukas serves as Legislative Director overseeing NGA’s economic development and revitalization portfolio, where he advises and engages on legislative and regulatory issues in transportation, infrastructure, energy, environment, land management, economic and community development, commerce, telecommunications, public finance, tax and international trade. Since joining NGA in 2019, Lukas led the adoption of Governors’ Principles for National Infrastructure Investment, supported several rounds of successful advocacy to provide federal relief and support to states and territories in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, spearheaded Governors’ engagement in the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and lobbied for the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.

Lukas has 20 years of experience in federal engagement, public affairs and intellectual property matters, helping organizations develop strategies and funding streams that deliver technical assistance, educational information, capital investments and capacity building to targeted communities.

Prior to NGA, he worked in government relations positions in the fields of economic development, regionalism, urban planning and conservation and parks for national organizations such as The Trust for Public Land, the American Planning Association, and the National Association of Regional Councils.

Lukas holds a master’s degree in political management with a concentration in urban affairs from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Gettysburg College. He also studied economics and international business at American University and the London School of Economics.

A New Jersey native, Lukas has lived on Capitol Hill for more than 20 years. In his spare time, he is the president of a local nonprofit that oversees a park and community garden in Southeast Washington.