Lee R. Godown is Head of Government Affairs at Nikola Corporation, a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions. With over 40 years of experience as a lobbyist and Congressional staffer, Godown has cultivated deep relationships across North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. His extensive background includes serving as Vice President of Global Markets, Policy at General Motors, where he spearheaded public policy initiatives and navigated the company through several major crises. Godown was instrumental in GM’s response to the 2014 ignition switch crisis, coordinating its crisis management strategy, and preparing leadership for Congressional hearings and executive branch investigations. His efforts contributed to the successful resolution of the issue, setting a standard in corporate crisis response. Godown’s work at GM also included leading the company’s federal and stakeholder outreach during its post-bankruptcy recovery, its landmark IPO in 2010, and the sale of its Opel/Vauxhall subsidiary. He was involved in key regulatory matters, including the global diesel scandal and the Volt battery fire investigation. Before GM, Godown was Managing Director at Public Strategies, providing government relations counsel to major U.S. and international companies. He also served as Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez for nearly a decade and held significant roles with several Congressional committees, including the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. After leaving GM, Godown founded Alpex International, a global consultancy advising corporate, governmental, and non-profit clients on navigating governmental affairs around the world. Godown holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Foreign Affairs from California State University, Pomona, where he was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2015. He has taught at the University of California, Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business, and is an adjunct professor at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government.