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Nygina Mills

Senior Executive | General Counsel | Risk & Compliance Officer | Board Member

Federal Executive Branch

Washington, DC, USA

Federal Executive Branch
Nygina Mills
Adam Middleton
Manchester Square Partners
Archish Mittal
Cornell Emerging Markets Institute

Nygina’s Biography

Nygina Mills is a highly regarded legal and governance professional with experience in the aerospace, defense and financial services sectors and expertise in regulations, contracts and compliance. Throughout her career, she has held a wide range of leadership, board and committee roles and has been recognized with many professional and academic honors and awards.

Nygina has served in numerous leadership positions, including Associate General Counsel, Financial Law at SBA where among many responsibilities, she led the legal oversight of the $852B loan portfolio and $26B small business investment company venture capital portfolio (SBIC), while interacting with major financial institutions in the US.

Prior to this role, Nygina was Director, Strategic Initiatives Directorate at the US Department of Education. She oversaw all sub-agency strategic initiatives for 1,600 employees with a $70 million annual budget dedicated to administering $120B in annual nationwide loan funds and a total lending portfolio of $1.4T in outstanding loans.

Other senior roles include Associate General...
Nygina Mills is a highly regarded legal and governance professional with experience in the aerospace, defense and financial services sectors and expertise in regulations, contracts and compliance. Throughout her career, she has held a wide range of leadership, board and committee roles and has been recognized with many professional and academic honors and awards.

Nygina has served in numerous leadership positions, including Associate General Counsel, Financial Law at SBA where among many responsibilities, she led the legal oversight of the $852B loan portfolio and $26B small business investment company venture capital portfolio (SBIC), while interacting with major financial institutions in the US.

Prior to this role, Nygina was Director, Strategic Initiatives Directorate at the US Department of Education. She oversaw all sub-agency strategic initiatives for 1,600 employees with a $70 million annual budget dedicated to administering $120B in annual nationwide loan funds and a total lending portfolio of $1.4T in outstanding loans.

Other senior roles include Associate General Counsel, Contracts at the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), where Nygina led US and international legal advisory on contract cost resolutions under Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARs), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), M&A, joint ventures and divestitures. Prior, she served as Associate Counsel at the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), where she regulated companies such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Boeing. In these roles, Nygina was counterparty to Fortune 100 public company counsel.

Nygina also served as a Partner at private law firms, most recently FisherBroyles, LLP where she specialized in advising clients in contracts, corporate securities, licensing, private equity, M&As, IPOs and private placements.

Nygina earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School and is an alum of Harvard Business School.
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Nygina’s Newsfeed

Harvard Business School
HBS Alumni Conference: Accelerating Climate Solutions

Nygina will participate in this event that will provide a discussion around what it takes to discover, develop, scale, and achieve meaningful progress on climate solutions. Through expert panels, case discussions and networking, participants will consider the role of the firm, individual business leaders, and HBS, as well as new business and investment opportunities.

The George Washington University
GW Business & Policy Forum: Attacking Cybersecurity Risks

Nygina Mills will take part in the event that will convene corporate leaders, cyber-policy experts and regulators to discuss innovative solutions that shape the future of cybersecurity and how businesses can best prepare for risks.

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Nygina’s Background

Federal Executive Branch
Associate General Counsel, Financial Law and Lender Oversight | Counsel | Senior Advisor
2022 - Present
Washington, DC, USA
Among her many responsibilities, Nygina has been responsible for the legal strategic direction of the SBA's $852B loan portfolios and the $26B small business investment company venture capital portfolio (SBIC). As legal counsel to the Office of Investment and Innovation, she advised the SBA on financing capital, research and development grants, and provides legal support to SBIC Program Offices.
United States Department of Education
Director | Strategic Initiatives Directorate
2020 - 2022
Washington, DC, USA
Nygina oversaw all sub-agency strategic initiatives for the world's 5th largest bank, 1,600 employees with a $68M annual budget dedicated to administering $120B in annual nationwide grant, work-study and loan funds, and a total lending portfolio of $1.4T in outstanding loans. She managed the Idea Lab staff of 30 and $3-4M in annual operating cost for executive initiatives and strategic direction.
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Board Positions

Harvard Law School | Women’s Alliance of DC
Board of Directors | Steering Committee
Cambridge, MA, USA
The Harvard Law School Association Women’s Alliance is an organization for the women graduates of Harvard Law School where they can come together to foster community, networking, and continuing education.

Previous Board Positions

Harvard Law School Alumni Association
Board of Directors
Jan 2017 - Jan 2018
Cambridge, MA, USA
The mission of the HLSA is to advance the cause of legal education, to promote the interests and increase the usefulness of the Harvard Law School, and to promote mutual acquaintance and good fellowship among all members of the Association.

Philanthropy

The Fourth Floor
Mentor
New York, NY, USA
The mission of The Fourth Floor is to close the gender power, wealth and funding gap by advancing for-profit board careers for women, supporting women-led startups and funds, and providing women opportunities to invest in other women.
Harvard W3D: Women in Defense, Diplomacy, and Development
Mentor
Cambridge, MA, USA
Founded in 2013, Harvard W3D is an innovative network dedicated to connecting and cultivating global leaders who work together toward sustainable peace.

Accreditation

National Association of Corporate Directors
Certified Director in Public Company Governance
2023
Arlington, VA, USA
NACD Directorship Certification is a designation that keeps pace with the ongoing changes in corporate governance, positioning directors to meet the biggest boardroom challenges.

Memberships

Harvard Business School Alumni Angels Association of New York
Member
New York, NY, USA
HBS Alumni Angels of Greater New York is the largest angel group in NY with 350+ angel investors and growing. Our members have invested $20 million across 100+ exciting early stage companies. Its members have extensive experience across industries and like to help strong entrepreneurs succeed.
Harvard Business School Alumni Association
Member
Boston, MA, USA
Nygina is a member of the Boston & New York chapters. The Harvard Alumni Association maintains and enhances a highly engaged, vibrant community of alumni and friends worldwide. It helps connect alumni to the University and each other through community activities, continuing education programs, online services, and events around the world.
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Awards & Recognition

American Bar Association
Fellow | 2019
New York, NY, USA
The ABA Fellowship is awarded to the top 1% of lawyers whose careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of excellence in the legal profession and to the welfare of society.
United States Department of Defense | Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)
Employee to Employee Award in Support Core Values
2019
Washington, DC, USA
The DCAA Employee to Employee Award is in recognition to employees who exhibit a dedication to the agency's core values of teamwork, excellence, accountability, respect, integrity and trust.
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Specialist Courses

IP Issues in Business Transactions
2023
New York, NY, USA
This program provides an overview of how intellectual property issues arise in the context of transactions, notably issues that may arise across patent, trademark, and copyright law. It also covers how to assess intellectual property as a strategic asset and how to monetize IP while avoiding costly mistakes. The program also includes a panel discussion on IP issues for in-house counsel.
Private Directors Association
Private Equity Portfolio Company Governance
2023
Private Equity Portfolio Company Governance is designed for private equity (PE) partners and managers, portfolio company executives, and independent directors who work together in boardrooms.
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Clinical Courses & Symposia

HBS Alumni Conference: Accelerating Climate Solutions
May 2023
Boston, MA, USA
Nygina will be in attendance at this event that will provide a discussion around what it takes to discover, develop, scale and achieve meaningful progress on climate solutions. Through expert panels, case discussions and networking, participants will consider the role of the firm, individual business leaders, and HBS, as well as new business and investment opportunities.
Private Directors Association
Cybersecurity Incident Response – What the Board Needs to Know
2023
This seminar focuses on the critical business of cybersecurity and why it should be a priority for every company and its board of directors. Among the many topics addressed are new vulnerability points that are continuously emerging, the risk of operational shutdowns, reputational damage, and regulatory consequences and how to prepare for potential cyberattacks.
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Training & Management Courses

Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford LEAD Program
2023
Stanford, CA, USA
Taught by world-renowned Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty from its MBA program, the year-long Stanford LEAD program welcomes participants from over 160 countries. The program is designed for executives is an experiential learning journey focused on innovation mindset needed to successfully navigate and implement real change. Nygina will be enrolled in the program from 2023-2025.
Harvard Business School
Advanced Management Program (AMP)
2022
Cambridge, MA, USA
The HBS Advanced Management Program is comprised of diverse senior executives and C-Suite members, 65% of whom are from businesses outside the U.S. The program offers instruction that helps proven professionals more effectively tackle their organization's toughest strategic challenges and lead with greater confidence and inspire performance of employees at all levels.
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Speaking Engagements

American Bar Association | Section of Public Contract Law
Moderator
2022
New York, NY, USA
Nygina served as a moderator for the panel titled 'Updates to the National Defense Authorization Act'.
American Bar Association | Section of Public Contract Law
Panel member
2019
New York, NY, USA
Nygina joined a panel titled 'Legal and Regulatory Update – Other Transaction Agreements'. The panel also included General Counsels of Defense Advanced Research Agency and NASA and a Partner at AM10 global law firm.
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Bar Admissions

Supreme Court of the United States
Member of the Bar
Washington, DC, USA
The Supreme Court is the highest tribunal in the United States for all cases arising under the Constitution and laws of the United States.
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Member of the Bar
Washington, DC, USA
The Committee on Admissions reviews all applications for admission to the District of Columbia Bar. The Committee administers the bar exam, conducts extensive character and fitness review, conducts informal conferences with applicants and formal hearings, and files recommendations with the court.
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Legislative Work

U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Judicial Clerkship
Chicago, IL, USA
Nygina served as a clerk for the Hon. Jack B. Schmetterer during his time as a judge in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Chicago, Illinois.
United Kingdom Parliament
Judicial Clerkship
London, UK
Nygina served as a judicial clerk for the Hon. Ian Davidson, a Member of the UK Parliament representing Glasgow South West.
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Press Releases

Nygina Mills is Recognized as NACD Directorship Certified® logo Nygina Mills is Recognized as NACD Directorship Certified® logo
Nygina Mills is Recognized as NACD Directorship Certified®
Apr 2023
Washington, DC, USA
“I am honored to join the distinguished and diverse group of NACD Certified Directors who are committed to advancing the highest standards of boardroom excellence,” said Nygina Mills, NACD.DC. “The information I’ve learned and demonstrated via NACD’s certification program are key assets to the future companies I will serve, as well as to my professional growth as a director.”

Fellowships

Harvard Business School
MBA Class of 1973 Fund for Social Enterprise Fellowship
2021 - 2022
Cambridge, MA, USA
American Bar Association | Section of Public Contract Law
Diversity 'High-Potential' Leader Fellowship
2016 - 2018
New York, NY, USA
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Nygina’s Education

Harvard Law School
Juris Doctor
Georgetown University Law Center
Master of Laws | LLM, Securities and Financial Regulation & International Business
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