July 17, 2025

Cornerstone Welcomes Defense Appropriations and National Security Expert, Jessie Calio

WASHINGTON, DC – Cornerstone Government Affairs, an employee-owned, bipartisan government affairs firm, announced Thursday the addition of Jessie Calio to its National Security team. Calio has an extensive background in national security, appropriations and authorizations and joins one of the leading defense lobbying firms in the country. Cornerstone’s National and Cyber Security Practice Group now boasts more than 30 experts, who represent dozens of for profit and not-for-profit organizations in the field.

Calio, who starts on July 17th, brings a wealth of experience in the defense appropriations, authorization and the annual defense budgeting processes to Cornerstone. She most recently served as Executive Director, Appropriations for Global Government Affairs at RTX, where she managed all federal appropriations legislative activities, including congressional hearings and briefings, analysis of legislation, congressional budget justifications, legislative strategies and implementing political activities including support for the company’s Political Action Committee.

Prior to RTX, Calio was an Air Force Appropriations Lead at Boeing, where she managed advocacy efforts on all Boeing Defense, Space & Security Air Force programs before the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Prior to her time at Boeing, she worked at Textron, handling both commercial and defense policy.

Before transitioning to the private sector, Calio held key roles within the U.S. Department of Defense. As Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, Calio was a senior advisor responsible for promoting the Department of Defense’s budget and policies to Congress.

Her other previous roles include Military Legislative Aide for former-Chairman Michael Turner (R-OH), Secretary of the U.S. Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and Scheduler for Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC).

“I am thrilled to be joining Cornerstone Government Affairs,” explained Calio. “I have worked with them closely throughout my career in government and the private sector and they are an incredible network of professionals.”

Cornerstone’s Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Gonella, emphasized the key role Calio will play for the organization’s clients across federal government relations, state government relations, public affairs and strategic communications.

“I’m pleased to welcome Jessie to Cornerstone, particularly as the demand for our national security and appropriations expertise continues to grow,” Gonella said. “Our clients in the defense space across all our lines of business will benefit from her deep expertise working with veterans, members and corporations.”

Click here to learn more about Cornerstone’s National Security, Cyber Security, Defense Health, Homeland Security, and Defense & Intelligence Practice Groups.

 

About Cornerstone

Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc. is a bipartisan, employee-owned, public affairs firm with more than 200 professionals in offices across the country. Through its federal and state government relations; strategic communications; political action committees; grant consulting and advisory services, Cornerstone represents a diverse group of clients from myriad industries and sectors and maintains expertise in a wide range of issue areas, including agriculture, cyber security, defense, education, energy, health, homeland security, international affairs, tax policy, telecommunications, and transportation and infrastructure.

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Abby Darwin

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