Cisco C. Minthorn is the President and Founder of Forge Strategies, LLC. He is a public policy executive, attorney, political leader, and board director with 20 years of government and corporate experience. Cisco founded Forge Strategies, LLC after a career serving in all three branches of the U.S. federal government, at a Fortune 50 tech company, and at a well-known global technology industry trade association. At Forge, Cisco helps a diverse array of clients navigate the complexities of the Federal Government, including the legislative and regulatory processes and political influencing strategies.

Before founding Forge, Cisco served as Vice President of Government Affairs at the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), a leading global information technology trade association representing 80 of the world’s most innovative companies to governments around the globe. Cisco focused his advocacy on international trade, semiconductor, and U.S.-China competition-related issues. A highlight of his work in this role, Cisco was one of the tech industry’s lead advocates for the historic CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which provided more than $52 billion for American semiconductor manufacturing and scientific innovation.

Prior to his trade association work, Cisco spent five-plus years at Intel Corporation where he was one of the company’s lead U.S. lobbyists, working on nearly every key lobbying victory over more than half a decade. His advocacy wins included federal appropriations to support Intel’s High Performance Computing business, and the passages of the National Quantum Initiative Act, the AI National Security Commission Act, the OPEN Government Data Act, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and the CHIPS for America Act. Cisco also served as Intel’s chief liaison to the Senate Democratic Caucus, managing one quarter of Intel PAC’s $1 million-plus budget.

Cisco’s government career spans all three branches of the U.S. federal government. He started by working for a federal judge, before his appointment as Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs under Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI). His work focused on water rights settlements, housing, lands, and natural resources and energy issues. He then served as Counsel to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources under Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), leading work on coal, hard rock mining, alternative fuel vehicles, and Indian and Alaska Native affairs. In the House, Cisco led the Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee for Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4). His government service culminated in a leadership role at the U.S. Secretary of Commerce’s office during President Obama’s Administration.

Cisco also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cayuse Holdings, a tribally-owned enterprise serving government and commercial clients, with $100 million annual revenue and 500 employees, globally. He earned a Juris Doctor and Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo.