Potomac Advisory Services was founded by Ian Rainey.  A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Ian served as a Surface Warfare Officer, deploying to the Middle East, South America, and Europe.

Following active duty, Ian went on to receive his M.A. in Strategic Studies from  The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).  He then served as a policy advisor within the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), accompanying the Secretary and other senior officials on numerous visits to Afghanistan.  He was selected to represent OSD in a strategic review of the war in Afghanistan and was awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Service Award.

Following government service, Ian entered the private sector to work with an infrastructure development company seeking to bring Japanese high-speed rail technology  to the U.S.  He was deeply involved in all aspects of the effort including project management, government affairs, and public relations.  Ian has testified in numerous public hearings and was interviewed by various media outlets, including The Washington Post and NPR.