Biography
Robert S. Metzger is a shareholder specializing in government contracts, security, and compliance matters. He co-chairs the Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice Group.
Executive Summary
Bob Metzger heads the Washington, D.C. office of Rogers Joseph O’Donnell, PC, a firm that has specialized in government contracts for over 40 years. Chambers USA 2023 placed RJO in “Band 2,” among the “Elite” group of government contracts law firms nationwide:
Rogers Joseph O’Donnell is a well-respected government contracting boutique capable of handling a diverse array of federal, state and local procurement mandates on behalf of domestic and foreign clients. Notable litigation and regulatory capabilities, which include internal investigations, false claims proceedings and bid protests. The firm possesses particular expertise in technology matters, regularly representing clients in this space.
Chambers USA 2023 ranked Bob in Band 1 for Government Contracts: Cybersecurity –USA—Nationwide and in Band 2 for Government Contracts – USA – Nationwide and said that he is “routinely called upon by clients for his expertise in cybersecurity matters, assisting clients with high-stakes contract procurements, qui tam litigation and compliance issues.” Chambers reported this Strength: “He is probably the best around in dealing with cybersecurity-related government contract matters.” The Legal 500 describes him as a “key name” and “procurement fraud and national security specialist.”” Who’s Who Legal (2023) identifies Bob as a “Thought Leader – USA – Government Contacts.”
In 2023, Bob is serving as an expert witness hired by a preeminent U.S. law defending its client against potential allegations that cybersecurity practices violated the False Claims Act. He is advising several prominent aerospace and defense and IT firms on cyber compliance matters. Between 2019 – 2021, Bob was Counsel of Record for Microsoft defending the $10 Billion “JEDI” cloud services contract award against a protest at the Court of Federal Claims brought by Amazon Web Services.
Bob is recognized for subject area leadership in cyber, supply chain and related security matters. As a Special Government Employee of the Department of Defense, Bob served on the Defense Science Board task force that produced the “Cyber Supply Chain Report” (April 2017) which subsequently received the SANS Institute “Difference Maker” award. He is a co-author of August 2018 MITRE “Deliver Uncompromised” Report that is widely credited with significant influence on a broad range of security initiatives of the Department of Defense and federal civilian agencies, including the CMMC program. Bob has participated in several other MITRE projects on national security and public policy subjects, with subjects including supply chain illumination, software assurance, ransomware, digital asset crimes and cybersecurity insurance. He was named a 2016 “Federal 100” awardee by Federal Computer Week which cited his “ability to integrate policy, regulation and technology” and said of him: “In 2015, he was at the forefront of the convergence of the supply chain and cybersecurity, and his work continues to influence the strategies of federal entities and companies alike.”
Bob graduated from Georgetown University Law Center where he was an Editor of the Georgetown Law Journal. After law school, he was a Research Fellow at the Center for Science & International Affairs (presently, “Belfer Center”) at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where he focused on W. European security. He has many publications and is frequently quoted in media on national security, cyber and supply chain security subjects.