USA Rare Earth Expands Leadership Team Following Landmark Agreement with U.S. Government

New executives to deepen engagement with policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders as company builds global critical minerals platform

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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USA Rare Earth, Inc. (Nasdaq: USAR) announced the appointment of three senior executives - Valerie Ford Jacob as Chief Legal Officer, Gregory Bowman as Chief Global Policy Officer and Head of External Relations, and J.B. Lowe as Vice President, Head of Investor Relations. The new leadership team will support the company's efforts as it builds a global champion in critical minerals and technology following a recent $1.5 billion PIPE transaction and Letter of Intent with the U.S. government.

Why it matters

The leadership appointments come as USA Rare Earth looks to accelerate its strategy of developing a leading global, non-China rare earth value chain, from mine to magnet and beyond. The company's proposed collaboration with the U.S. government is expected to provide up to $1.6 billion in funding to support the expansion of its mine-to-magnet platform, a critical step in establishing a secure, sustainable supply of materials essential to defense, electrification, robotics, energy, and advanced manufacturing.

The details

Under the proposed collaboration, the Department of Commerce's CHIPS Program would provide the funding, while the Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory has signed a Letter of Intent to work with USA Rare Earth on advancing heavy rare earth separation technologies. The new executives will help the company engage with policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders as it executes on this strategy.

  • USA Rare Earth announced the new leadership appointments on March 9, 2026.

The players

USA Rare Earth, Inc.

An American company building a fully integrated rare earth and permanent magnet supply chain across the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe.

Valerie Ford Jacob

The new Chief Legal Officer of USA Rare Earth, joining from Freshfields US LLP where she served as partner and co-head of the Financial Institutions Group and Global Capital Markets.

Gregory Bowman

The new Chief Global Policy Officer and Head of External Relations at USA Rare Earth, bringing decades of experience across national security policy, legislation, global strategy, and complex infrastructure programs.

J.B. Lowe

The new Vice President and Head of Investor Relations at USA Rare Earth, with over 15 years of capital markets experience on both the buy- and sell-side.

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What they’re saying

“As USA Rare Earth enters its next phase of growth, Valerie, Greg, and J.B. bring critical expertise to our leadership team. Valerie is a recognized leader in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. Greg strengthens our ability to engage at the highest levels of government when domestic industrial capacity is a national priority. And J.B.'s extensive capital markets experience will help us more effectively communicate our progress as we build the leading global mine-to-magnet platform.”

— Barbara Humpton, Chief Executive Officer of USA Rare Earth

“I am honored to join USA Rare Earth and excited for the opportunity to partner with the management team and board to help deliver on the Company's growth strategy. USAR is building the world's leading globally integrated, non-China critical mineral technology platform, which represents a unique competitive advantage for the United States and our allies, and I'm eager to support the USA Rare Earth team in delivering on its strategies.”

— Valerie Ford Jacob, Chief Legal Officer

“I look forward to driving engagement with our partners and global policymakers, as I help the Company address one of the most consequential challenges facing the United States and its allies. Establishing a secure capability for rare earth materials and critical technology is essential to our economic resilience and national security.”

— Gregory Bowman, Chief Global Policy Officer & Head of External Relations

“The opportunity for USAR to establish a resilient rare earth value chain is highly compelling. I am thrilled to join the team and advance our strategic dialogue through transparent communication with the investment community.”

— J.B. Lowe, Vice President, Head of Investor Relations

What’s next

The proposed collaboration with the U.S. government is expected to provide up to $1.6 billion in long-term, milestone-based funding to support the expansion of USA Rare Earth's mine-to-magnet platform.

The takeaway

The leadership appointments at USA Rare Earth demonstrate the company's commitment to building a globally integrated, non-China critical minerals platform that can provide a secure and sustainable supply of rare earth materials essential to U.S. economic and national security interests.