Summary
Karina Lipsman has expertise in international diplomacy, geopolitical strategy, conflict resolution, cyber and space domains, defense operations, and implementation of U.S. global defense systems spans almost two decades.
She is currently the head of government relations at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Most recently, Karina served as the 2022 United States Congressional nominee for Virginia’s 8th District. In this capacity, she was the only Ukrainian-born refugee immigrant nominated to run for Congress in the country, broke multiple milestones by winning a historic percentage in a five-way highly contested primary and outperforming 30 years of fundraising records.
Karina for Congress – 12/05/2022 (03:27)
News
The Russian autocrat has crushed his domestic challengers. It’s time the rest of the world woke up to his threat
With exacting precision only a dictator can orchestrate, the government’s press release announced the formal end to Putin’s last internal, democratic challenge: Alexei Navalny was dead.
His, and democracy’s, ignoble end was declared, allegedly, only two minutes after it happened. Internally and geopolitically, the Russian government understood the ramifications and the consequences. It wanted to waste no time.
Officially, Navalny died of “instant death syndrome” but to the free world, he was martyred. The timing of his death was another chess move, just like the press release.
National elections in Russia are next month and the current head of government, Vladimir Putin, is expected to clear yet another electoral victory, his fifth such election.
– March 16, 2024
It was a privilege to help welcome Ambassador Audra Plepytė of Lithuania yesterday for the inauguration of our new exhibit “From the Soviet Red Flag to the Lithuanian Tricolor: 50 Years of Struggle for Freedom.” Dive into Lithuania’s journey against Soviet oppression at the Victims of Communism Museum today! #Lithuania
Lindsey Hutzler A&S ’12, Dr. Clara Fangfang Ma Ed ’17, ’23, Rubin Singh Bus ’16, Karina Lipsman Engr ’12, Alina Predescu Bus ’13, ’17
March 6, 2024, Wednesday
12:00 PM (EST)
Portraits are images that convey both how we see ourselves and how we appear to the world. Much like portraits, imposter syndrome can cloud perceptions and cause us to question our capabilities, particularly when perception does not match reality. Whether we are young or a seasoned veteran; a virtuoso; author; physician; professor; or business executive; a mom, sister, or daughter; many of us have crossed paths with it. Imposter Syndrome affects high achievers, male and female alike, who often doubt their abilities and accomplishments in the workplace and feel ‘like a fraud.’
Join the discussion as a variety of panelists tell their stories, share their expertise, and offer advice for conquering imposter syndrome once and for all.
Karina Lipsman, congressional candidate and Kaye Kory, Virginia State Delegate participated in the Women In Politics session as part of Congress Day. See link above for more information on the Town Hall.
Here is a video link to the full town hall.
Lipsman spoke about her successes, challenges, and background in Ukraine.
“I was born in Odessa, Ukraine, when it was still under the Soviet regime. I’ve experienced the things that come with that kind of regime like standing in bread lines, not having a voice, and not being able to do things that you otherwise would be able to do here in the United States.” said Lipsman.
“I got to see a lot of what’s going on in countries that are less fortunate than ours. I got to work with leaders across the globe on their defense strategies and how they protect their countries. There have been a number of women refugees from the slave labor camps that I met and brought to the General Assembly. The fact that I’m able to do that really makes the problems in the world personal and gives all of us an opportunity to fight against oppression of any kind.”
Lipsman said women are held to higher standards.
“I got into the male-dominated industry of finance and defense, and so I was always the only girl in the room usually. I was told that women should wear a certain type of outfit if they wanted to be taken seriously. It’s so important that we don’t look at ourselves as victims but we look at ourselves as empowered individuals who have a reason and deserve to be where we are.”
WF is delighted to welcome Karina Lipsman as a visiting fellow. Karina is passionate about empowering the next generation of women. With her decades-long defense, intel, and national security experience, Karina will be a strong addition to our team of safety and American security experts.
“I’m excited to join Independent Women’s Forum and be part of a network of inspiring women,” said Karina. “IWF’s mission to develop and advance policies that enhance people’s freedom, opportunities, and well-being is something that I’m passionate about given my upbringing in Soviet Ukraine and immigrating to the United States for freedom and opportunity.”
Karina Lipsman grew up in Soviet-controlled Odesa, Ukraine where equality was non-existent. Her expertise in international diplomacy, geo-political strategy, conflict resolution, cyber, space, defense operations, and implementation of U.S. global defense systems spans almost two decades. Most recently, Karina served as the 2022 U.S. Congressional nominee for Virginia’s 8th district. In this capacity, she was the only Ukrainian-born refugee immigrant nominated to run for Congress in the entire country.
Karina grew up in Ukraine, then the Soviet Union, until she was 8
Karina Lipsman, a Ukrainian-born U.S. citizen running to represent Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, believes the Biden administration “did not do everything in its power to prevent” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“[I]n terms of what happened, the crisis did not develop overnight. We had intelligence for months that we could have acted on that said Russia was going to invade, and we had all these possible scenarios that we could have played out – the least likely of which was that full invasion by Russia into Ukraine … which is exactly what we’re experiencing right now,” Lipsman told Fox News Digital.
Lipsman’s mother wanted to give her daughter “the opportunities that she was not able to get” for her had they stayed in Ukraine “because of the oppression, because of the inflation, because of the regime in the way that it was,” Lipsman said.
“It didn’t really allow you to live your full potential and people were discouraged from being self-sufficient and more encouraged to rely on the government,” she explained.
About
Prior to running for Congress, Karina was responsible for Peraton’s corporate strategy development where she spearheaded the creation of the first peer-to-peer engagement plan which resulted in partnerships with the Department of Defense and non-traditional defense companies. She also developed and led a series of strategy sessions to cross pollinate heritage capabilities across multiple sectors to support growth strategy during a 12-month period of rapid acquisitions totaling just over $11B.
Before that, Karina served as a senior strategist for Northrop Grumman Corporation where she was instrumental in leading international and domestic portfolios, championed innovations to drive organizational adaptation in the digital economy, built cross functional teams focused on next generation Space initiatives, and incepted enterprise-wide initiatives resulting in cost avoidance, operational efficiency, and business growth. Karina’s career also encompasses highnet-worth financial portfolio management concentrating on maximizing stability and achieving above average returns.
Karina holds a Master’s in engineering from Johns Hopkins University and Bachelor’s in Economics from Towson University. She is a native Russian speaker and has held TS/SCI clearances.
As a sought-after expert commentator on international diplomatic relations between the United States and Ukraine, Karina has been featured on Fox News Digital, Daily Caller, Voice of America, WJLA, ABC7, OAN, Washington Times, and others.
Karina holds a Master’s in Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University and Bachelor’s in Economics from Towson University. She serves on the Johns Hopkins Alumni Council, is a Visiting Fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum, and is frequently sought after for her commentary on current events in the media.
Contact
Email: OnAir Member
Web Links
Videos
Karina Lipsman Official VoA Interview, VA08 Congressional Nominee
July 13, 2022 (03:27)
By: Voice of America
Interview aircast with Karina Lipsman
October 14, 2022 (30:15)
By: Virginia onAir
Host: Ben Murphy, Students onAir @GMU
Aircaster: Gabriel Yu, US onAir
Student Panelists:
Devin Pieczynski, Students onAir @GMU
Frida Cervantes, Students onAir @GMU
Ani Prakash, Students onAir @GMU
Joe Kubicki, Students onAir @GMU
Learn About Karina Lipsman – onAir
September 22, 2022 (01:00)
By: Virginia onAir
Students onAir presents Karina Lipsman’s biography and policies. She is the Republican Candidate for Virginia’s 8th US House District drawn from her campaign website.
Narration for About US onAir Network
March 26, 2024 (02:00)
By: US onAir Network
Current Affiliations
Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC)
Source: website
Karina Lipsman is the Director of Government Relations for the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC) and leads VOC’s engagement with U.S. federal and state policymakers, embassies, and advocacy initiatives with human rights allies and captive nations constituencies.
- Karina leads VOC’s engagement with U.S. federal and state policymakers, embassies, and advocacy initiatives with human rights allies and captive nations constituencies.
- Develops and launches new programmatic initiatives engaging policymakers with VOC’s groundbreaking research, witness and narrative shaping events, and leading the VOC Congressional Caucus.
- Develops partnership and alliance strategies for growth and brand awareness.
Overview
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC) is an educational, research, and human rights nonprofit organization devoted to commemorating the more than 100 million victims of communism around the world and to pursuing the freedom of those still living under totalitarian regimes.
The Foundation was authorized in 1993 by a unanimous Act of Congress signed as Public Law 103-199 by President William J. Clinton on December 17, 1993. On June 12, 2007, President George W. Bush dedicated the Victims of Communism Memorial statue in Washington, D.C.
Vision
A world free from the false hope of communism.
Inspired by an appreciation for the principles of liberty and an understanding of how these ideas have enabled human flourishing and prosperity to an unprecedented degree, the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation envisions a world free from the false hope of Marxism and safe from the tyranny of communism.
The real examples of socialism today are China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, Vietnam, and now Venezuela. We must contend with these regimes and the threats they pose to free people—and we must struggle for the freedom of the more than one billion people held captive by these regimes.
Independent Women’s Forum
Source: website
Karina is a Visiting Fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum since December 2022.
Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) is the leading national women’s organization dedicated to developing and advancing policies that are more than just well-intended, but actually enhance people’s freedom, opportunities, and well-being.
As a 501c3 non profit organization, IWF works every day to engage and inform women about how policy issues impact them and their loved ones.
IWF celebrates women’s accomplishments and fights to expand women’s options and opportunities.
We support policies that reduce government red tape and return resources and control to people, so that we have healthy communities and people can pursue their own visions of happiness.
Johns Hopkins Alumni Association
Source: https://alumni.jhu.edu/
Karina is a member of the JHU Alumni Council.
We do this by strengthening engagement within the almost 260K-strong alumni community through a rich blend of social, professional, cultural and academic opportunities. These include special events, local activities, regional chapters, interest-based communities, volunteer opportunities, online resources and other useful benefits and programs.
2022 Congressional Candidate
Karina Lipsman for Congress
Source: Website
A Product of the American Dream
I arrived in Baltimore City as a refugee from Soviet-Ukraine with my single mother and elderly grandparents. We didn’t speak English, lived in low-income housing, and survived on food stamps. I remember my first day of public school, watching my fellow classmates recite the Pledge of Allegiance and not understanding a single word but deep down I knew it was something I wanted to be part of.
My mother played the role of both parents while working as a seamstress to make ends meet and attending community college in the evenings to learn English. Life was not easy, but I learned from an early age the meaning of perseverance and hard work.
At the age of 14, I started working at a local bagel shop, and I’ve worked ever since. I understood that because of my mother’s sacrifices, I had the opportunity to make something of myself. I would not let those sacrifices be in vain.
American, by Choice
As soon as I turned 18, I applied to be an American citizen. At my citizenship ceremony, I recited the most meaningful Pledge of Allegiance of my life, and I knew in that moment just how fortunate I was to be given this opportunity that most people around the world can only dream of.
Academically and Professionally Accomplished
I completed my studies in three years with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics while working full-time in the financial industry. After graduation, I joined the world of national defense and earned a Master’s degree in Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Following a 14 year career in the defense and intelligence communities, I decided to resign and run for Congress, because it’s time for new leadership and a modern vision.
Why I’m Running
As an immigrant from an oppressive regime, I don’t take the freedoms in this nation for granted. I am running for Congress to set an example. An example of proudly serving my country, representing my neighbors and fellow Virginians, and leaving a better future for the next generation. Today’s politicians are out of touch, and entrenched in the system. Virginia’s 8th District needs someone willing to collaborate, work across the aisle with a new vision for the future, and work to change the toxic climate that has become so common.
As your Congresswoman, I will prioritize introducing common-sense solutions and working across the aisle for VA-08 rather than engage in partisan politics. I will advocate for sensible policies that fight crime, reduce inflation, ease transportation and improve our educational standards.
Common Sense Solutions Before Partisan Politics
Our enemies know that we are weaker when we are divided. Divisive politics are poisonous, and we must work together to overcome the gridlock on our country’s critical issues. Unfortunately, there are loud extremists on both sides, who benefit from dividing our country, and we cannot let that happen. I will work tirelessly to bring civility back into politics and our communities.
We will not make progress as a country if we immediately dismiss ideas simply because they come from the other side. We cannot demonize our fellow citizens simply because they have a different view. Instead, I will prioritize the interests of my district and my country and fight to deliver bipartisan solutions that improve the lives of my constituents.
More Information
Peraton
Corporate Strategy Development
Dec 2020 – Feb 2022 · 1 yr 3 mos – Full-time
- Developed business strategy and policy to allocate financial and human capital resources for investment, business execution and new business opportunities
- Analyzed government policies, budgets and acquisition approaches
- Developed knowledge of and formed collaborative relationships with key government and industry stakeholders
- Established actionable coalitions across disparate entities including executive, functional, and line-of-business
Northrop Grumman ·
Innovation, Business, and Strategy Leader
Jun 2009 – Dec 2020 · 11 yrs 7 mos – Full-time
- Led, managed and supported both domestic and international portfolios
- Championed innovations to drive organizational adaptation in the digital economy
- Built and led cross functional teams focused on next generation Space initiatives
- Incepted and led enterprise-wide initiatives resulting in cost avoidance, operational efficiency, and business growth
General Electric
Production Specialist
Apr 2008 – May 2009 · 1 yr 2 mos -Full-time
AXA Advisors, LLC
Portfolio Analyst
Apr 2006 – Apr 2008 · 2 yrs 1 mo – Full time
- Managed high net worth financial portfolios to maximize financial stability and above average returns
- Continual study of current events across the world and analysis of potential impact on financial and economic markets
- Prepared financial models including illustrations, analysis and proposals for clients and business leadership
- Processed consumer insurance products including long term care, life, disability, and health
- Established and maintained relationships with multiple fund managers
Skills
- Business Operations
- Engineering
- Strategy
- Strategy Development
- Team Building
- Team Leadership
- Leadership
- Negotiation
- Innovation Management
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Creative Problem Solving
- Collaborative Problem Solving
- Customer Interaction
- Problem Solving
- Cross-functional Team Leadership
- Mentoring
- Management
- Innovation Development
- Operational Efficiency
Licenses & certifications
Competitive Intelligence Professional Level 1 (CIP)
Academy of Competitive Intelligence
OSAC Private Sector Overseas Security Training
U.S. Department of State
Languages
English
Native or bilingual proficiency
Russian
Native or bilingual proficiency
Spanish
Limited working proficiency
Volunteering
Council Member
The Johns Hopkins University
Education
Student Mentor
Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering
Education
Donor Relations – Fund Development Council
The Junior League
Economic Empowerment
Committee Lead/Community Advisory Board
The Junior League
Children
Member
24 Foundation
Health
Member
Society of Women Engineers
Science and Technology
Member
Society for International Affairs
