STEWART JAMES LAWRENCE
Arlington,VA
Summary
Senior research and policy analyst with 25 years of experience in national security, immigration, public health, and criminal justice. Expertise in translating complex policy findings into actionable reports for diverse stakeholders. Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams, delivering high-quality results on time.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Contract Research Consultant
Lawrence & Associates / Lawrence Communications
08.2007 - Current
- Supported government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses with survey research design and policy communications, producing stakeholder-ready deliverables.
- Delivered strategic policy reviews, environmental scans, issue papers, policy briefs, and op-eds tailored to non-expert decision-makers.
- Wrote white papers for the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES) on workplace coaching and COVID-19 labor impacts (2021-2022).
- Authored a Pfizer-commissioned white paper (via Arcos) to boost clinical trial participation among African-American and other communities of color (2018).
- Researched and drafted politically sensitive Sudan country reporting and evaluations of the World Bank's SABER education assessment program (2017).
- Authored 5 research reports on policing, crime and criminal justice issues for academic research center clients (2021-2022)
Senior Editorial Manager
Alexa Research & Engineering, LLC
Washington, DC
09.2023 - 02.2026
- Oversaw 12 scientific-technical reports for DoD Health Affairs (DHA) on toxic chemical exposure policy affecting service members, veterans, and families.
- Served as the single point of accountability across the report portfolio; coordinated 6 SMEs and managed year-long drafting/review cycles across reports to ensure clarity, feasibility, and policy relevance for DoD/DHA stakeholders.
- Edited SME-authored reports across priority exposure areas (e.g., contamination, blast overpressure, infectious disease, obesity, PM2.5), translating technical findings into stakeholder-ready language and strengthening policy implications.
- Co-developed content and style guidelines with the CEO, advised on report development priorities, and led biweekly/monthly review cycles using Word Track Changes and SharePoint/Teams to ensure compliance and quality.
- Wrote 10+ report abstracts summarizing research findings for stakeholders and drafted comprehensive project proposals.
Senior Researcher and Writer
Dronevideos.com
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Researched and wrote 500+ blogs on drone market and regulatory trends, owning topic selection, headlines, drafting, and editing.
- Developed reporting that supported the decision to establish DroneArticles.com as a standalone industry news site.
Senior Technical Writer
Cathexis and CPS Professional Services
06.2016 - 06.2018
- Edited and revised annual DoD reports to Congress on the status of the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) in partnership with DoD subject matter experts.
- Produced an in-depth research report to Congress on "mid-tier" defense contractors, including analysis and legislative reform options.
- Developed the first-ever special issue of Defense Technology and Logistics (DTL) focused on critical DIB challenges and opportunities.
- Assisted a team of 5 staff in overhauling online applications for veterans' medical benefits, enhancing clarity and usability, which led to a 30% reduction in user inquiries.
- Drafted memos and reports on DIB risks and gaps that informed discussions of proposed legislative remedies and funding priorities.
Federal Meeting Reporter & Synthesis Writer (Contract)
CLC Associates / Catoctin Consulting
01.2006 - 01.2010
- Wrote detailed meeting notes and 10-15 page syntheses for multi-day stakeholder sessions supporting HRSA (2006), BARDA (2010), and other federal clients.
Audience Research Director
National Public Radio
01.2006 - 12.2006
- Directed data analysis and report writing for Profile 2006, a 500-page study of NPR's radio, online, and podcast audiences based on a 35,000-household sample and state-of-the-art media research databases.
- Produced 2 comprehensive reports analyzing emerging media industry trends for senior leadership, which informed NPR's strategic planning and supported local affiliate relations during annual congressional funding submissions.
President & CEO (Principal Investigator)
Puentes & Associates
01.1999 - 01.2005
- Founded and directed a bilingual research/communications firm; served as PI for a Department of Health-funded Latino health survey in DC supporting $5M in program funding and coordinated a $3M CDC bid under a 10-day deadline.
- Founded environmental health nonprofit; built stakeholder alignment among ATSDR, state regulators, and community orgs to support expanded toxic contamination field studies and subsequent remediation action.
Grant Reviewer (Contract)
IQ Solutions
01.2001 - 01.2002
- Reviewed, scored, and wrote summary evaluations for 25 community-based substance abuse prevention grant submissions for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) across 2 funding cycles.
Senior Project Manager (Research & Evaluation)
Life Cycle Institute
01.1996 - 01.1999
- Directed planning and implementation of 6 survey research projects, led questionnaire design, SPSS multivariate analysis, interviews/observational research, and report writing/presentations.
- Produced high-impact mixed-methods research: informed National Conference of Catholic Bishops policy/program revisions and earned front-page Los Angeles Times coverage; work contributed to a 5-year, $600K Pew award (2000-2005).
Project Manager
CIED, Georgetown University
01.1992 - 01.1995
- Led operations for Georgetown's inter-American labor migration policy center, coordinating Mexico-based researchers, reviving a stalled 3-year grant program, and co-organizing a government conference on labor migration data systems.
Program Evaluator
U.S. General Accounting Office
01.1991 - 01.1992
- Supported GAO evaluations of U.S. foreign aid programs in El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama (portfolio totaling $2B), including field interviews and report drafting.
- Enhanced congressional oversight through evaluation findings, prompting a review of U.S. aid policy in Panama after Washington Post coverage.
Education
Masters of Arts - International Relations
Columbia University
New York, NY01.1991
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
University of California
Santa CruzAdvanced Spanish -
PLFM School
Antigua GuatemalaSkills
- Strategic research planning
- Quantitative and qualitative analysis
- Report writing
- Stakeholder coordination
- Subject matter expert management
- Editorial and quality control
- SPSS and Excel proficiency
- Presentation development
Personal Information
Title: SENIOR RESEARCH & EDITORIAL MANAGER
Selected Publication Profiles
- HuffPost News
- CounterPunch
- Daily Caller
- The Guardian
- 1945
Timeline
Senior Editorial Manager
Alexa Research & Engineering, LLC
09.2023 - 02.2026
Senior Researcher and Writer
Dronevideos.com
01.2022 - 01.2024
Senior Technical Writer
Cathexis and CPS Professional Services
06.2016 - 06.2018
Contract Research Consultant
Lawrence & Associates / Lawrence Communications
08.2007 - Current
Federal Meeting Reporter & Synthesis Writer (Contract)
CLC Associates / Catoctin Consulting
01.2006 - 01.2010
Audience Research Director
National Public Radio
01.2006 - 12.2006
Grant Reviewer (Contract)
IQ Solutions
01.2001 - 01.2002
President & CEO (Principal Investigator)
Puentes & Associates
01.1999 - 01.2005
Senior Project Manager (Research & Evaluation)
Life Cycle Institute
01.1996 - 01.1999
Project Manager
CIED, Georgetown University
01.1992 - 01.1995
Program Evaluator
U.S. General Accounting Office
01.1991 - 01.1992
Masters of Arts - International Relations
Columbia University
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
University of California
Advanced Spanish -
PLFM School