From Policy to Practice: Mark Simakovsky Brings Deep Defense, Resilience and International Expertise to K2

Welcoming Mark Simakovsky to the K2 Team

At K2, we’re committed to supporting organizations and governments in navigating complex global challenges with clarity, strategy, and integrity. That’s why we’re proud to welcome Mark Simakovsky to our team as Senior Advisor of Resilience, Defense, and International. A Distinguished Career in Public Service

Mark brings a wealth of experience in national security, international affairs, and strategic advisory work. Over the course of his career, he has served in senior positions across three U.S. administrations, including a presidential appointment as Deputy Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia at USAID. In that role, he led the U.S. government’s response to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, managing USAID’s largest budget and overseeing initiatives across Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and Russia.

Deep Expertise in Defense and Strategic Advisory

His experience also includes serving as a Senior Vice President at Beacon Global Strategies, and holding several leadership roles within the U.S. Department of Defense, where he helped shape U.S. responses to Russian aggression in Georgia (2008) and Ukraine (2014). Earlier in his career, he served as a Presidential Management Fellow in the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Russian Affairs.

Strengthening K2’s Mission

Mark’s deep experience at the highest levels of U.S. foreign policy, defense strategy, and international development enhances K2’s ability to support our mission-driven partners with clarity, agility, and strategic insight. His leadership directly strengthens our government contracting work, helping us deliver resilient, high-impact solutions that support the warfighter, drive value for the American taxpayer, and reinforce U.S. and allied security objectives.  A Scholar and Global Citizen

In addition to his government service, Mark is the founding partner of Heartland Global Advisors, a Washington, DC-based firm that supports companies across the government, development, defense, energy, banking, and technology sectors. He is also a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, Europe Center, and Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

Mark is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the inaugural Ronald D. Asmus fellow at the German Marshall Fund, and a recipient of multiple awards from the Departments of Defense, State, and USAID.

He holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a BA in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs from Miami University. A Russian speaker and former Fulbright scholar in Georgia, Mark now resides in Maryland with his wife and children.

Join Us in Welcoming Mark

We’re honored to have Mark on board and look forward to his guidance as we continue to strengthen our resilience, defense, and international strategy in today’s fast-changing world.