WASHINGTON — The National Congress of American Indians announced June 12 that Kevin Allis has accepted the role of its first chief executive officer.

In this role, Allis will be responsible for leading and managing all strategic and operational aspects of the organization while creating a vision for the future long-term success for NCAI and the NCAI Fund. Allis will report directly to the NCAI Executive Committee.

Allis, a member of the Forest County Potawatomi Community, comes to NCAI with a leadership background within the government relations industry where he spent time building working relationships with congressional offices, relevant administrative agencies and other advocacy organizations, to strategically advance top priorities for Indian Country.

Allis’s previous roles include executive director of the Native American Contractors Association, Board chairman of the Potawatomi Business Development Corporation, and founder of Thunderbird Strategies, LLC, a government relations firm specializing in advocacy of Native American rights.

Allis is also an attorney and former law enforcement officer who served the Baltimore Police Department for eight years.

“NCAI, in its 75 years, has defined, defended, and continues to champion efforts to promote Native resiliency and tribal sovereignty. I am sincerely humbled by the honor to lead this organization, and appreciate the opportunity and challenge to continue the great work of this historic organization in strengthening tribal sovereignty and safeguarding our traditions and customs for generations to come,” Allis said in a statement.

“As we embark on a new chapter with the hiring of our first CEO, we are pleased to welcome Kevin Allis to the National Congress of American Indians. We are fortunate to benefit from Kevin’s considerable expertise and look forward to working together to protect and advance tribal sovereignty,” said NCAI President, Jefferson Keel, of the Executive Committee’s selection of Allis.

Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country.