Michael Gallagher is the third president of Washington Policy Center. His career includes service at the highest levels of government and industry.

Mike spent more than 11 years as president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, the trade association representing the video game industry. During his time as CEO, Mike doubled the size of the membership as ESA rebuilt and evolved the industry’s trade show – E3 – to not only welcome 70,000 attendees, but also engage billions worldwide online. He also led the industry’s successful legal effort to cement its creative rights before the US Supreme Court in 2011.

Supporting those initiatives, Mike designed and implemented partnerships with influential groups ranging from AARP to Sesame Street and established political allies on both sides of the aisle with federal and state elected leaders. During Mike’s tenure as CEO no hostile legislation or regulation was imposed on the interactive entertainment industry.

Prior to his post at ESA, Mike worked in the wireless industry and served as a chief of staff on Capitol Hill, and as an Assistant Secretary at the US Department of Commerce and head of the National Telecommunications & Information Administration. He was also a practice group co-chair at the Perkins Coie law firm.

In 2018, Mike launched Intrepidity, a strategic consulting firm, based in Mclean, Virginia.