Brian Hendricks serves as the Director of MIT’s Washington Office. At the direction of the Vice President of Government Affairs, he is responsible for developing and enhancing close working relationships with the Federal government and Congressional offices as well as national higher education and science organizations for MIT faculty and administration, while overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Washington Office. He is a strategic advocate with decades of experience advancing science and technology policy at all levels of government. 

Brian has more than 25 years of experience in innovation and technology policy having held senior positions in the private sector, in Congress, and with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Prior to joining MIT, he spent 15 years at Nokia concluding his tenure as the Chief Public Policy and Government Affairs Officer. This role included the management of a thirty-five-person global organization responsible for geopolitical strategy, public policy advocacy, and regulatory affairs. Brian is a frequent speaker at major public policy symposia, summits, and trade shows on topics in innovation and emerging technology. 

Prior to Nokia, Brian served as the Staff Director and General Counsel of the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. He was the Committee’s lead advisor in the areas of commerce, space, telecommunications, and emerging technology. His tenure included the advancement of the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 that is the foundation of the country’s current human space flight program, the creation of FirstNet, a first of its kind nationwide platform for disaster and first responder wireless communications, and the creation of the first incentive auction for the repurposing of wireless spectrum. He negotiated dozens of bipartisan bills with the White House and House of Representatives.

Earlier in his career, Brian served as an Attorney Advisor in the Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission, one of the key sector regulators in the U.S. Before joining the FCC, Brian spent seven years in a variety of government affairs and regulatory policy positions with Ameritech and SBC Communications.  

Brian is a graduate of the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary where he also earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree with a specialization in regulatory policy. He has served as an adjunct professor in both the law school and the graduate Public Policy program at William and Mary and as a Visiting Lecturer at the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado. He lives in Virginia with his wife and their son.