Biography

Alyssa Pettus serves as Senior Vice President of External Affairs & Communications and Chief Communications Officer, where she is the official spokesperson of the agency and leads EXIM’s strategic communications, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement efforts to advance U.S. economic competitiveness and global trade objectives.

Most recently, Ms. Pettus served as a senior staffer for the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. She played a key role in advancing the Committee’s communications and strategic objectives related to U.S.-China relations, focusing on shaping the Committee's messaging and outreach to key stakeholders, ensuring a strong narrative on national security, economic policy, and countering China’s influence globally.

Previously, she was the Director of External Communications at Leidos, where she led all external communications efforts, crafting a comprehensive strategy that spanned media relations, marketing, and executive communications. She also spearheaded communications for the Leidos Dynetics Group, overseeing initiatives across its $1.5 billion portfolio. Prior to this, Pettus served as Senior Media Relations Manager and Press Secretary for the Civil and Intelligence Groups at Leidos, managing strategic communications, media relations, and acting as a key spokesperson for the company.

She brings to EXIM deep experience from Capitol Hill, having worked as Press Secretary for Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), where she developed and executed messaging strategies for one of the most influential members of Congress. She also held communications roles at Ervin Hill Strategy and NASA, where she honed her skills in public relations and policy communication.

Alyssa is an active member of the Auburn University Public Relations Advisory Board and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications, with minors in business and Spanish, from Auburn University. She is originally from Athens, Alabama.