HII has appointed Michael DeBernardis as Vice President and Chief Counsel for its Mission Technologies division, reinforcing the company’s leadership team as it continues to expand its capabilities across defense, intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced mission technologies. The appointment comes at a time when legal, regulatory, and compliance expertise is becoming increasingly critical in supporting complex national security programs and emerging technologies.
In his new role, DeBernardis will advise HII’s senior leadership while overseeing the delivery of legal services for Mission Technologies. As a member of the division’s leadership team, he will support initiatives spanning defense operations, unmanned systems, logistics, fleet sustainment, nuclear services, training, and other mission-enabling capabilities. His responsibilities will include guiding legal strategy and helping the organization navigate evolving regulatory and governance requirements as it pursues long-term growth.
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DeBernardis brings nearly two decades of experience advising multinational corporations and government contractors on investigations, compliance, governance, and regulatory matters. Before joining HII, he served as Managing Partner of the Washington, D.C., office of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP and chaired the firm’s Global Investigations, Enforcement and Compliance practice. Throughout his career, he has represented organizations before the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and several international institutions.
The appointment reflects a broader trend across the defense and aerospace sector, where organizations are strengthening executive leadership with experienced legal professionals to address growing regulatory complexity while supporting innovation in areas such as cyber operations, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and national security technologies. As defense technology portfolios continue to evolve, strategic legal leadership is increasingly viewed as an essential component of sustainable business growth and operational resilience.