Secretary names Smithsonian’s Chief Legal Officer

Jennifer Brosnahan McIntyre, currently chief counsel for strategy and policy at Boeing Defense Space and Security, will head the Office of the General Counsel, effective March 11, 2024.

Jennifer Brosnahan McIntyre

McIntyre will serve as the principal legal advisor to the Secretary and other senior Smithsonian officials, as well as the Board of Regents. The chief legal officer advises on issues arising from the broad scope of operations of the Institution, is responsible for overseeing representation of the Smithsonian in litigation and administrative matters, serves as the Smithsonian’s chief ethics officer and leads the Office of General Counsel, which comprises 14 lawyers and six support staff.  As a member of the Smithsonian’s senior leadership team, the chief legal officer also works in collaboration with the Institution’s senior leaders and other museum, research center and educational program directors to further the Smithsonian’s mission and strategic plan and to improve its policies and operations.

Since 2010, McIntyre has served in various roles in the Law Department of The Boeing Company. As chief counsel for strategy and policy at Boeing Defense Space and Security, McIntyre advises Boeing’s defense business on legal and policy matters of strategic importance to the future of the business, particularly those related to government contracting. In a prior role as chief counsel for Autonomous Systems, McIntyre led a team of attorneys as principal legal advisor to the division and was responsible for legal matters ranging from government and commercial contracting to intellectual property, litigation and governance. Prior to that role, she advised company leadership on legal, policy and compliance matters related to advocacy before Congress, the executive branch and state and local governments.

McIntyre has extensive experience in the public sector as well, having served as Deputy general counsel for the U.S. Department of Transportation from 2007 to 2009. She also served in the White House as associate counsel to the President from 2003–2007, providing legal advice to President George W. Bush and White House officials on matters including judicial nominations, executive privilege, ethics, proposed legislation and the legal activities of various federal departments and agencies. McIntyre has served as counsel to the associate attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice, as an associate in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis, and as a law clerk to Judge Kenneth F. Ripple of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

McIntyre earned her Juris Doctor degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics magna cum laude from Harvard College.She is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the Maryland Bar.

McIntyre succeeds Judith Leonard, who retired from the Institution in March 2023.  Farleigh Earhart, associate general counsel, has served as acting general counsel since Leonard’s retirement.

“Jennifer McIntyre’s leadership in legal matters, as shown by her work in the public and private sectors, will bring great benefit to the Smithsonian,” said Secretary Bunch. “Please join me in welcoming her to the Smithsonian and her new role as chief legal officer.”

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