In September 2016, Harry Lightsey was appointed executive director of Emerging Technologies Policy in the Global Public Policy organization at General Motors (GM).

Lightsey joined GM in March 2012 as director, Federal Affairs—OnStar, Infotainment and Strategy Development. He subsequently also led the Federal Affairs team. He retired from AT&T in 2009 after serving as president of Southeast Region and as its senior vice president of Legislative and External Affairs. Lightsey also served as State President South Carolina of BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc.

Lightsey’s career in the telecom industry spanned more than 26 years, including in a variety of positions in the external affairs and legal organizations at BellSouth. He began his telecommunications career in 1982 at Southwestern Bell.

He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. He was named co-chair of the Economic Development Transition Task Force by then-South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges. He was a founding member of the board of City Year-Columbia, a youth service organization, and has participated in numerous other charitable organizations.

In 2002, he received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest recognition for his achievements in leading the ground breaking effort to establish leading research and development programs in higher education. He has also served on the Princeton National Alumni Executive Board and on the Board of Trustees of the College of Charleston.

He received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1978, majoring in Japanese studies. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1981.