St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy William S. R. Rogers Endowment for Public Policy Studies March 13-16, 2016 Washington, DC Guest Speaker Bios Jeffrey J. Kimbell President Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates Jeffrey J. Kimbell, President of Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates, represents 25 clients in the life sciences community seeking legislative and policy remedies in Washington. Founded in 1998, the ten person firm provides strategic solutions to hand-selected clients seeking creation, modification, or proper implementation of public law. Mr. Kimbell has contributed to or been interviewed by a host of trade and global news publications and television programs including Bloomberg’s Business News, Time Magazine, The New York Times, Reuters, The Washington Post, The Bureau of National Affairs (BNA), Congressional Quarterly, Forbes, MX Magazine, Scripps-Howard, Roll Call, Politico, The Food & Drug Law Journal, and The Hill. Mr. Kimbell has testified before the U.S. Congress and spoken before numerous industry groups, boards of directors, scientific advisory boards, associations, and educational institutions, including Harvard, Georgetown and Stanford Business Schools, Columbia University School of Public Health, the Young Presidents’ Organization, AdvaMed, the OCTANe Medical Device & Investor Forum, AAOS Chicago Ophthalmology Summit, AECOS, and many others. In January of 2001, Mr. Kimbell was named to President George W. Bush’s Transition Team Advisory Committee for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and assisted a host of Presidential appointees through their confirmation process in the U.S. Senate. He was the only consultant to serve on the Committee. Prior to establishing Kimbell & Associates, Mr. Kimbell served as the first Executive Director of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) from 1994-1998. While at MDMA, he directed all global policy initiatives on behalf of MDMA’s member companies. During his tenure, the association grew from 25 companies to 130, an increase that can be directly attributed to a number of legislative victories, including passage of a landmark bill to overhaul the product approval process at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). In addition to handling matters before the U.S Congress, Mr. Kimbell was also responsible for MDMA’s interaction with state and foreign governments and federal agencies of jurisdiction on tax and trade matters. Prior to serving at MDMA, Mr. Kimbell was a personal aide to former U.S. Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr. (R-TN) and personal attaché to former U.S. Secretary of State Lawrence S. Eagleburger in the Washington office of the Tennessee-based law firm Baker, Worthington, Crossley & Stansberry. In addition to Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates, Mr. Kimbell is Managing Director of Jackalope Real Estate, LLC and Managing Partner of Magnum Entertainment Group, Inc. Jackalope is a real estate holding company with assets in Washington, DC, Park City, UT, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Magnum is an entertainment group with over 85 corporate clients which produces live music events globally from Bangkok to Baltimore. Magnum events have featured artists including ZZ Top, Greg Allman, Blues Traveler, Dickey Betts, Robert Earl Keen, and Better Than Ezra, among others. St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy A graduate of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX, Mr. Kimbell earned his B.A. in Political Science. While at SMU, he worked for U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX), a member of the House Ways & Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax, trade, and a significant portion of Medicare. Mr. Kimbell currently serves on the Board of Trustees for St. George’s School in Newport, RI and as Vice President of the Safari Club International (SCI) Washington Metro Chapter. He served as Chairman of the National SCI Political Action Committee (SCIPAC) from 2012-2014. Mr. Kimbell was elected President of the City Tavern Club of Washington from 2004-2007 and President of the Capital Club from 1997-1999. Mr. Kimbell, his wife Jessica, and their three children are avid sportsmen who enjoy fly fishing, hunting, and skiing at locales throughout the world when U.S. Congress is in recess. Molly O’Rourke Partner Hart Research Associates Molly O’Rourke is a partner and has been with the company for more than 15 years. She directs research projects for a variety of issue advocacy and nonprofit organizations, trade associations, political candidates and parties, and media outlets, including NBC News and The Wall Street Journal, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Children’s Defense Fund, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Before joining Hart Research, Molly worked on Capitol Hill for US Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and at EMILY’s List, the women’s political action committee. She also served as an analyst for the Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University’s Eagleton Institute. For several years, Molly co-wrote a monthly column about politics and public opinion titled “Behind the Numbers” for The Hill. She has taught courses on research methodology as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University and guest lectured on research and communication at Duke University, Brown University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, Molly is an Executive in Residence at American’s University’s School of Communication, where she co-directs the MA program in Political Communication. Ms. O’Rourke graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Brown University and holds a master’s degree from the University of Michigan, where she was awarded a Kellogg Foundation Fellowship. She and her husband have two children. St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy John Holder Political Sciences Professor Winthrop University Education: Ph.D., Public Policy, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2013 M.Phil., Political Science, The George Washington University, 1993 M.A., Political Science, The George Washington University, 1990 B.A., Political Science, Haverford College, 1985 Areas: American Government, State and Local Government, The National Executive, The Congress, The Judiciary, Public Opinion and Political Socialization, Political Parties and Practical Politics, South Carolina Government and Politics, The Human Experience: Who Am I? John Holder is a native and resident of Rock Hill. He represents the fourth generation of his family to be associated with Winthrop, and the second to be a faculty member in the Department of Political Science. He began teaching at Winthrop in 1995, with interruptions to continue his graduate education and complete his doctorate. His dissertation analyzed election reform in North Carolina. He previously served as the faculty advisor for the Winthrop chapters of Circle K and Habitat for Humanity, and is currently the advisor for the College Democrats and South Carolina Student Legislature. He is President of both the North Carolina Political Science Association and the South Carolina Political Science Association. Prior to returning to his home town and embarking on his teaching career, he lived in Washington, DC, for ten years, where he worked for three members of South Carolina's Congressional delegation and for a presidential campaign. He is the former Secretary of the York County Democratic Party, and was one of South Carolina's delegates to the 2000 Democratic National Convention. He is also a former board member of the Kiwanis Club of Rock Hill and of Habitat for Humanity of York County, and was Clerk of the Vestry and Chair of the Mission and Outreach Committee at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Rock Hill. As a hobby growing out of his interest in teaching State and Local Government, he has visited every state Capitol building in the country. He paid for his doctoral studies at UNC Charlotte by winning $59,350 on the Dec. 20, 2004, episode of "Wheel of Fortune. Gerrit Lansing Chief Digital Officer National Republican Congressional Committee Gerrit graduated from St. George's in 2002 where he played hockey and was on the sailing team. He spent three years there before taking a year off between SG and The University of the South in Sewanee, TN where he majored in Ancient Greek and Latin. He moved to D.C. shortly after graduation in 2008 when the internet was well on its way to changing the way politics works. As an early adopter at the Heritage Foundation where he was the Feature’s Editor for the blog, he was lucky to be on the cutting edge of digital politics where raising money and winning votes online was a new phenomenon. St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy He soon moved to Congressman Peter Roskam’s (IL-6th) office where he worked on traditional press as well as digital projects. Later he was Press Secretary at for Paul Ryan at the House Budget Committee, helping to modernize operations there as well as throughout the House of Representatives. In mid 2012 he moved from Ryan’s office to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) where he was Digital Director until December, 2014. He built a modern Digital Department there and increased fundraising by over 500%, establishing the new Department as a significant contributor to both the political and finance needs of the House GOP campaign wing. In late 2014 he co-founded Revv.co, a donation platform for campaigns and causes, with NRCC colleagues to improve the right’s online donation infrastructure. In late spring 2015 he took on a second duty as the Chief Digital Officer for the Republican National Committee (RNC) where he is building assets and infrastructure for the eventual GOP nominee. Lee Carosi Dunn Senior Counsel and Head of Elections Google, Inc. Lee Carosi Dunn is Senior Counsel at Google’s legal and policy office here in Washington, DC focusing on technology issues and regulatory policy before the United States Senate and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Prior to her work at Google, Lee spent close to ten years working for Senator John McCain (R-AZ) as his General Counsel in his Senate office and as counsel for the Senate Commerce Committee when the Senator served as Chairman of the committee. While on the committee staff, Lee focused on telecommunications and media issues. Lee also worked for former FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell and at the law firm Dow, Lohnes and Albertson representing Cox Communications, Nextel and Media General. She served as a judicial clerk for the Chief Judge of the Eastern District of Virginia after graduating from The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law, cum laude. Lee spent her years before law school working for one of the regional bell operating companies, US West Communications, as an operations and planning manager. She graduated from Vanderbilt University with a major in Sociology and can rewire a telephone jack. Lee is married to Brendan Dunn and has three young children Margaret Kimbrell Executive Director No Labels Margaret Kimbrell began her political career helping good people get elected to public office, serving on three senatorial and gubernatorial campaigns. But, it was there she realized that it wasn’t the people in Washington who were creating the dysfunction – it is our system that rewards dysfunction over problem solving. She now serves as the Executive Director of No Labels, a national movement dedicated to the new politics of problem solving. Since 2009, she has played an integral role in growing and developing the organization from an idea to a nationwide movement of more than half a million people. In her role, Margaret serves as the organization's St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy spokesperson and oversees all Congressional relations, fundraising and strategic execution of the staff, co-founders, executive board and membership. In Fall 2012, Margaret began building a new problem solvers group, which grew to include more than 90 members of Congress who meet regularly to build trust across the aisle. Under Margaret’s leadership, these early trust-building sessions eventually helped facilitate the writing and bipartisan co-sponsorship of 17 different bills in Congress. In August 2014, two early members of the No Labels problem solvers group started the official Problem Solver Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. In January 2014, No Labels launched its most ambitious undertaking yet by calling on America's leaders to support a new governing process to create a National Strategic Agenda. The Agenda includes four goals – chosen with input from a nationwide survey: create 25 million new jobs over the next 10 years; balance the federal budget by 2030, secure Medicare and Social Security for another 75 years; and make America energy secure by 2024. The National Strategic Agenda has been introduced as a congressional resolution in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. No Labels works every day to engage our leaders on the federal, state and local levels of government and forge a new path for collaboration and negotiation. With the national networks and infrastructure now built, No Labels is truly changing the way Washington works. Margaret is a native of Greenville, South Carolina and earned her degree at the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business. Tripp Donnelly CEO and Founder Rep Equity As CEO of Rep Equity, Tripp drives vision and strategy for the company, helping to build and protect some of the most recognized brands in business, finance, entertainment, sports and government. Under his leadership, RepEquity has grown 3,000% since its founding, won more than 50 industry awards, received three investment rounds, completed two successful acquisitions, and been named to both the INC. 500 and Deloitte Technology Fast 500 as one of the fastest-growing companies in America. The company has been named to both the Washingtonian and Washington Business Journal’s Best Places to Work. He was named one of Washington Business Journal’s 40 under 40 business leaders and SmartCEO Magazine’s Technology Innovator of the Year. Prior to RepEquity, Tripp served as Senior Vice President at InPhonic, a NASDAQ publicly-traded technology company he helped grow from start-up through IPO. Through the company Potomac Interactive Partners which he co-founded in 2003, he developed and managed successful online marketing and fundraising programs. Earlier in his career, Tripp served at the White House for five years as a legislative aide and advance team lead in the Offices of Legislative Affairs and Presidential Advance. He holds degrees from Georgetown University and the London School of Economics. He is a Fellow of the Aspen Institute. He is also active in several professional and charitable organizations, including Children’s National Medical Center, Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, and Sibley Hospital Foundation. St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy Danny Ferris Squadron Commander United States Army Special Operations Command Lieutenant Colonel Dan Ferris currently serves in the United States Army Special Operations Command. Originally from Walpole, Massachusetts, he attended college at Norwich University in Vermont, earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation he received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army as an Infantry Officer. Upon completion of the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia, then Second Lieutenant Ferris served in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky as a Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer. His next assignment was in the 3rd Ranger Battalion as a Ranger Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer at Fort Benning, Georgia. During this time he participated in the initial invasion of Afghanistan after the attacks on September 11, 2001. After redeployment from Afghanistan and a recent promotion to Captain he attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course and then served as a Mechanized Rifle Company Commander in the Republic of South Korea. Returning to the United States, he served as a Staff Officer and Ranger Company Commander in 1st Ranger Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia where he deployed to combat in both Afghanistan and Iraq. When the Ranger Regimental Commander identified a requirement for a liaison officer with a Naval Special Warfare Unit, the newly promoted Major Ferris moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia for a year. Upon completion of that assignment, Major Ferris moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina serving in the United States Army Special Operations Command and conducted combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. His next assignment brought him to the Naval War College in Newport, RI where he earned a Master of Arts degree in National Security & Strategic Studies. Following school, he worked for the Joint Special Operations Command as a liaison officer in the Pentagon where he briefed all of their plans and operations to the senior leadership of the Department of Defense. He then returned in June of 2015 to North Carolina where he currently serves as a squadron commander. Lieutenant Colonel Ferris’ eleven combat deployments (six to Afghanistan, four to Iraq, and another to an undisclosed location), when combined, amount to more than 48 months in combat. All deployments were conducted with special operations forces targeting high value individuals in support of the national defense strategy. Awards & Decorations:                  Bronze Star for Valor Three Bronze Stars Defense Meritorious Service Medal Two Meritorious Service Medals Joint Service Commendation Medal Two Army Commendation Medals Army Achievement Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award National Defense Service Medal Five Afghanistan Campaign Medals Four Iraq Campaign Medals Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terror Service Medal Korean Defense Service Medal Army Service Ribbon Overseas Service Ribbon Ranger Tab St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy       Combat Infantryman’s Badge Expert Infantryman’s Badge Pathfinder Badge Military Free-fall Wings Airborne Wings Air Assault Wings Military Education Courses:  Infantry Officer Basic Course  Infantry Officer Advanced Course  Ranger School  Air Assault School  Airborne School  Pathfinder School  Ranger Orientation Program  Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle Commander Course  Combined Arms Service & Staff School  Jumpmaster Course  Army Survival/Escape/Resist/Evasion School  Military Free-fall School  Several selection and qualification courses for the United States Army Special Operations Command Sheldon Whitehouse U.S. Senator Rhode Island’s junior senator is Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat elected in 2006. He is a persistent warrior for his party’s liberal wing who champions a full marquee of its causes—climate change, gun control, income equality, campaign finance reform, and same-sex marriage. Whitehouse is a descendant of Charles Crocker, one of California’s “Big Four” men who built the Central Pacific Railroad, the eastbound section of railroad that connected with the Union Pacific line at Promontory Summit, Utah, to form the nation’s first transcontinental railroad. Sheldon Whitehouse was born in New York City and spent his formative years overseas, including in Cambodia, South Africa, the Philippines, and Guinea; as a teenager, he taught English to Vietnamese children in Saigon. He graduated from St. Paul’s preparatory school, Yale College, and the University of Virginia Law School. Afterward, Whitehouse clerked for an appeals court judge and then moved to Rhode Island to take a job as an assistant state attorney general. He was appointed a top staffer for Gov. Bruce Sundlun in 1991 and served two years as head of the state’s department of business regulation. In 1994, Whitehouse was appointed U.S. attorney for Rhode Island. Whitehouse launched an undercover investigation that resulted in the conviction of Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci for public corruption. He also focused on environmental cleanup, leading an investigation that resulted in the largest fine in state history for an oil spill in Narragansett Bay. Whitehouse served as State Attorney General from 1994-1998 and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006. St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy Whitehouse consistently has been among the Senate’s leading liberals. He supported President Barack Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus bill in 2009 and said he’d even like to see a second stimulus bill focused entirely on the nation’s infrastructure. But Whitehouse can be stubborn about sticking up for his causes. For several years, he has taken to the Senate floor to give speeches about the perils of climate change, accusing Congress in January 2013 of “sleepwalking through history” for not paying enough attention to the problem. He and likeminded Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., formed a joint House-Senate task force on the issue that month. Whitehouse also loudly clamored for a Senate vote on the “Buffett Rule” imposing higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Republicans blocked it from clearing the necessary 60-vote hurdle in April 2012. Whitehouse has become the ideological heir to former Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold in seeking to control the influence of money in elections. He sponsored successful 2010 legislation that authorized the Federal Communications Commission to regulate the volume of television ads. His amendment facilitating prosecution of anyone using lasers to attack airplanes passed the Senate 96-1 in 2011. On other issues, Whitehouse, with Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, cosponsored a bill in 2009 to free users of credit cards carrying interest rates 15% above Treasury bonds from the obligation to repay in bankruptcy proceedings. When cyber security legislation became hung up in partisan battles in 2012, Whitehouse worked with conservative Arizona GOP Sen. Jon Kyl to hammer out a compromise, which Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid then refused to advance. Whitehouse first gained recognition in Congress as a fierce Bush administration critic on the Judiciary Committee. He blasted Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez for firing U.S. attorneys for what Democrats alleged were political motivations. After Gonzalez resigned, Whitehouse opposed the nomination of Michael Mukasey for refusing to say whether water boarding was an illegal tactic against terrorism detainees. After Obama’s election, he became a stalwart administration defender. During a 2012 campaign appearance in Rhode Island, Vice President Joe Biden said he had offered to put forward Whitehouse’s name for the Supreme Court, but that the senator refused, citing his desire to serve his full term. Michael Gula Co-Fouder Gula Graham Michael Gula is the co-founder of Gula Graham formed in January of 2009. Gula Graham is the largest Republican fundraising firm in the country Before co-founding Gula Graham, Mr. Gula was the President of Mike Gula & Associates, a leading Washington, D.C. Republican fundraising and political consulting firm he formed in 2005. Currently, Gula Graham raises money for thirty-one Members of Congress and eight Senators. In the 2014 election cycle, Gula Graham raised over $38,500,000 in contributions for their clients and over $100 million since inception. Prior to founding Mike Gula & Associates, Mr. Gula was Vice President of Keelen Communications, a top Republican fundraising and political consulting firm that represented twenty-five Members of Congress. Mr. Gula is also the co-founder of Prime Advocacy, a leading Washington, D.C. fly-in consulting firm, which specializes in event management, scheduling Congressional appointments and trip St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy logistics for leading associations and corporations. Michael Gula has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, National Review, Roll Call & The Hill. Mr. Gula, a native of Austin, Texas, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Richmond, where he also served as captain of the baseball team. Michael enjoys traveling with his wife Ashley and his son Bennett, and is an avid follower of the Texas Longhorn sports programs. He resides in Alexandria, VA with his wife Ashley. Lindsay Angerholzer Partner Angerholzer Broz Consulting As a Partner with the political consulting and compliance firm Angerholzer Broz Consulting (ABC), Mrs. Angerholzer provides strategic advice and support for approximately 30 Democratic Members of the United States House of Representatives, as well as law firms and trade associations. ABC’s clients include Assistant Minority Leader James Clyburn, National Democratic Campaign Committee Finance Chairman Donald Beyer, Financial Services Committee Member Terri Sewell, and Appropriations Committee Member Dutch Ruppersberger. Mrs. Angerholzer was previously President and Managing Partner of the political consulting firms of The Angerholzer Team and Sutter’s Mill, respectfully. Mrs. Angerholzer holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in American Politics from The University of Virginia. Mrs. Angerholzer has served on the Advisory Council of the Salvation Army of Washington, DC. A proud native of Virginia, Mrs. Angerholzer now resides on Gibson Island, Maryland. Brian Finlay President and CEO The Henry Stimson Center Brian Finlay is the President and CEO at Stimson. His areas of expertise include nonproliferation, transnational crime, counter-trafficking, supply chain security and private sector engagement. Brian Finlay is the President and CEO at Stimson. His areas of expertise include nonproliferation, transnational crime, counter-trafficking, supply chain security and private sector engagement. Finlay is also an Adjunct Instructor in the School of International Service at American University in Washington. Prior to joining Stimson, Finlay served four years as executive director of a Washington-based lobbying initiative focused on counterterrorism issues, a researcher at the Brookings Institution, and a program officer at the Century Foundation. He was a project manager for the Laboratory Center for Disease Control/Health Canada, and worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. He Chairs the Board of Directors of iMMAP, an information management and data analytics organization focused on improving humanitarian relief and development coordination. He also serves on the Advisory Board of Black Market Watch, a Geneva-based NGO that works to raise awareness around illicit global trade. Finlay also sits on the Editorial Board of Global Security, a journal of health, science and policy published by Routledge, Taylor & Francis. St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy Finlay has authored and co-authored numerous books, monographs and reports, and is widely published in academic and policy journals and magazines. He is frequently asked to provide expert analysis and commentary on transnational and development challenges to media outlets around the world. Finlay holds an M.A. from the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, a graduate diploma from the School of Advanced International Studies, the Johns Hopkins University and an honors B.A. from the University of Western Ontario. Chris Cox Executive Director National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action Chris W. Cox has served as the executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, the political and lobbying arm of the National Rifle Association, since 2002. As NRA's chief lobbyist and principal political strategist, Cox oversees nine NRA-ILA divisions – Federal Affairs, State & Local Affairs, Public Affairs, Research & Information, Grassroots, Hunting/Conservation/Wildlife, Office of Legislative Counsel, External Affairs (International) and Fiscal. He also serves as president of the NRA Freedom Action Foundation (NRA-FAF), which conducts non-partisan voter registration and citizen education, and chairman of NRA Country, which brings country music artists together with NRA members in support of our Second Amendment freedoms and hunting heritage. Directing NRA's nationwide legislative and political efforts, Cox develops and executes independent political campaigns and legislative initiatives; coordinates national advertising and direct mail programs; and has administrative responsibility over NRA-ILA's $30 million budget. He also serves as the Association's principal contact with the United States Senate and House of Representatives, the White House and federal agencies. As chairman of NRA’s Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF), Cox has directed NRA’s electoral efforts at every level. From presidential campaigns to congressional, state and local races, NRA has achieved unprecedented success under Cox’s leadership. In fact, of the hundreds of federal elections in which NRA-ILA and the Political Victory Fund participated during 2014, more than 90% of the candidates who had the NRA's endorsement won their elections. And today, NRA members benefit from tremendous political support in congressional, gubernatorial and state legislative offices across the country. National television networks and cable news outlets, in addition to prominent daily and weekly publications, often seek Cox's insight on policy and political matters. He has appeared on Fox News, CNN and other networks defending gun rights and responding to media inaccuracies on a variety of firearms, hunting and NRA-related matters. Prior to joining NRA in 1995, Cox served as a senior legislative aide in Congress, managing issues relating to the judiciary, criminal justice reform and firearms freedom. He is a graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., where he earned a bachelor's degree in history with a minor in business administration. He grew up hunting and fishing with his father and three brothers in west Tennessee. Cox resides in Virginia with his family. St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy Keith Studdard Vice President, Government Affairs & Political Strategy Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates Mr. Studdard spent two and a half years in the House of Representatives serving as Legislative Director to U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Blackburn currently serves as Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee where she sits on four critical subcommittees including the Subcommittee on Health and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. She also serves on the House Budget Committee and is a founding member of the Republican Women’s Policy Committee. Finally, Rep. Blackburn is a House Deputy Whip and serves as a ViceChairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. During his time with Rep. Blackburn, Keith was involved in debate and negotiations over numerous pieces of health care related legislation including the Affordable Care Act, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, and the Drug Quality and Safety Act. Prior to his time on Capitol Hill, Keith directed federal lobbying efforts for the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the professional organization representing more than 104,000 osteopathic physicians and osteopathic medical students. In his role as Director of Congressional Affairs, Mr. Studdard served as the organization’s head lobbyist during the health care reform debate and directed efforts to inform state chapters on the status and content of the legislation. Before joining the AOA’s lobbying team, Keith spent the 2008 election cycle as Director of the Osteopathic Political Action Committee (OPAC). During this period, OPAC’s receipts increased by over $100,000 due to significant increase in number of individual donors. Mr. Studdard served as point person with the OPAC Board to determine contribution strategies on behalf of OPAC. Keith began his career in Washington, DC at Kimbell and Associates where he served two years as government affairs associate, comptroller, and chief of staff to Mr. Kimbell. He also has significant experience in federal campaigns and political strategy having worked on multiple presidential, Senate and House campaigns over the last decade. In addition, during the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL., Keith was directly involved with the writing of the Republican Platform serving as the lead staff person for the subcommittee overseeing health care, tort reform, education, and family issues. Keith graduated Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Mississippi with a degree in mathematics and chemistry. St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy Nick Magallanes Director, Federal Government Relations Biotechnology Industry Association (BIO) Nick Magallanes has been working on and around Capitol Hill since 2009. He began his career at Barbour Griffith Rogers, a boutique lobbying firm started by former Mississippi Governor and RNC Chairman, Haley Barbour. After leaving BGR he served on the staff of then-Conference Chairman, Senator Lamar Alexander, before leaving in 2012 to work for Rep. Lee Terry and the Energy and Commerce Committee, where he was one of the lead staffers on the Commerce subcommittee. In 2014, Nick began a new role as Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Policy Development for the House Republican Conference, the number four leadership position in the U.S. House. Today Nick is the lead Republican congressional lobbyist for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). Nick holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt, an M.S. from George Mason and is in his third year of law school at Catholic University. Peter Cook Assistant Secretary to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs & Pentagon Press Secretary U.S. Department of Defense Peter Cook serves as the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for communications, news media relations, public outreach, engagement, public affairs and visual information. Mr. Cook is dual-hatted as the Pentagon Press Secretary and the chief spokesman for the Department of Defense and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. He is the communications policy lead for DoD, providing departmental guidance to the Armed Services and Combatant Command Chiefs of Public Affairs as well as over 4,500 public affairs personnel worldwide. Mr. Cook directly oversees the Defense Media Activity, an organization of approximately 2,000 personnel that provides a wide variety of multi-media information products to over one million U.S Servicemembers, civilian employees, and their families. Before coming to the Pentagon, Mr. Cook spent his career in journalism. Most recently he worked as Chief Washington correspondent for Bloomberg Television where he covered the intersection of government and business and often reported on national security issues. His regular beats included the White House, Congress, Treasury, and the Pentagon. Before Bloomberg, Mr. Cook worked for NBC News and MSNBC and covered the Pentagon during the start of the Iraq war. He helped launch EnergyNewsLive.com as Washington bureau chief. Mr. Cook started his career in local television, winning awards for his work as an anchor and reporter in North Carolina, Virginia, and Idaho. St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy Bill Hatfield TODAY Washington News Producer NBC News Bill Hatfield is a news producer for TODAY, based in NBC News' Washington, D.C. bureau. He is responsible for overseeing the top story from the nation's capital on each morning's broadcast, working closely with NBC's Washington correspondents and their counterparts around the world. He primarily covers stories on politics, policy, and national security; he also produces occasional feature stories and newsmaker interviews for the morning program. Prior to his appointment at TODAY, Hatfield served as a producer of THE CHRIS MATTHEWS SHOW, a Sunday morning public affairs program featuring Matthews and a rotating panel of top reporters, for seven years. He was a researcher for the NBC News political unit during the network's Decision 2004 coverage, and began his NBC career as a Washington desk assistant in 2003. A Rhode Island native, Hatfield received a B.A. in political science from Duke University in 2003, and is a 1999 graduate of St. George's. Vince Coglianese Executive Editor The Daily Caller Vince Coglianese is the executive editor of The Daily Caller. His reporting has received wide coverage, including in the pages of The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The Drudge Report, among others. Vince has appeared regulary as a guest on the Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, the Fox Business Network and CNBC. Additionally, Vince has been a guest on "The Sean Hannity Radio Show," "The Hugh Hewitt Show," Sirius XM's "The Press Pool with Julie Mason," "Viewpoints with Lockwood Phillips," and the "Matt Lewis and the News" podcast. Prior to joining TheDC in 2010, Vince was the web editor for CarolinaCoastOnline.com, and a radio talk show host for The Talk Station (WTKF/WJNC) in Morehead City, N.C. Tucker Carlson Editor-In-Chief The Daily Caller Tucker Carlson is the co-host of Fox and Friends Weekend and the editorin-chief of TheDailyCaller.com, one of the largest news sites in the country. Carlson joined Fox from MSNBC, where he hosted several nightly programs. Previously he was the co-host of Crossfire on CNN, where he was the youngest anchor in the history of that network. During the same period, Carlson also hosted a weekly public affairs program on PBS. A longtime writer, Carlson has reported from around the world, including dispatches from Iraq, Pakistan, Lebanon and Vietnam. He has been a columnist for New York magazine and Reader's Digest. He currently writes St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy for Esquire and The New York Times magazine. Carlson began his journalism career at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper in Little Rock. His most recent book is entitled, Politicians, Partisans and Parasites: My Adventures in Cable News. In 2006, he appeared on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Carlson is currently working on his third book. Jim Thompson Owner Thompson Ryer Strategic Communications Jim Thompson has been designing and implementing communication plans for political and advocacy groups for 25 years. Over the years, Jim has managed every aspect of these plans, including the qualitative and quantitative research, message development, production and delivery. In 2001 Jim was a founding partner in Bynum Thompson Ryer - a full service communication firm that has provided communication strategy, message development and production for a wide range of clients, including political candidates, labor unions, referenda, non-profit organizations and corporations. Before founding Bynum Thompson Ryer, Jim directed paid voter contact programs for the Political Department of the AFLCIO from 1989 through 1992, and from 1996 through 2001. At the AFL-CIO, Jim was responsible for a complete overhaul of Labor’s political communication and managed the largest on-going voter contact program in the nation. From 1993 through 1995, Jim was a deputy Political Director at the Democratic National Committee, where he oversaw state party coordinate campaigns. Prior to 1989, Jim was the Political Director at Project 500, a Democratic Redistricting organization, and served on several state-wide campaigns. Jim graduated from St George’s School in 1984 and attended the University of Pittsburgh. Jack Reed (D-RI) U.S. Senator Democrat Jack Reed, Rhode Island’s senior senator, was first elected to the House in 1990 and the Senate in 1996. He is one of the chamber’s lowestprofile members yet among its most-respected wonks, making his influence felt on banking and national security matters by sticking to substance and avoiding bomb-throwing rhetoric. He became the Armed Services Committee's top Democrat in 2015. Reed grew up in working-class Cranston, RI, attending LaSalle Academy and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He went on to serve in the 82nd Airborne as a paratrooper. He also received a master’s degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School while in the Army, and after retiring from active duty, he graduated from Harvard Law School. In 1984, at 35, Reed won public office for the first time, beating an incumbent in the primary for the state Senate, where he served six years. When Republican Claudine Schneider left the U.S. House to St. George’s School Robin Rogers Endowment for Public Policy run against Sen. Claiborne Pell in 1990, Reed ran for her seat. He beat former Rep. Edward Beard 49%-27% in the Democratic primary and won the general election 59%-41%. In 1995, when Pell announced his retirement after 36 years, Reed ran for the Senate. Reed had no serious competition for the Democratic nomination and won the general election 63%-35%. Reed arrived as one of the few senators of his generation with military experience and has been regarded by many colleagues as an authority on defense and military matters. He has served on the Armed Services Committee since January 1999. With Michigan Sen. Carl Levin’s announcement of his retirement, Reed took his top spot on the panel. His clout is such that former Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Reed was instrumental in persuading him to stay on the job in the early years of President Obama’s administration. “In terms of reaching out to me, and whether I would stay on, Obama couldn’t have picked a person I was more willing to listen to or respected more than Jack,” Gates told Rhode Island Monthly in November 2012. He also said he proposed Reed to Obama as a candidate for Defense secretary. But the president “shook his head—he clearly has the highest respect for Jack—and he said, ‘I can’t lose him in the Senate,’” Gates recalled. When Obama was a Democratic presidential candidate, Reed accompanied him on his 2008 trip to Iraq and Afghanistan, and Obama later considered him a potential running mate until Reed ruled himself out. In September 2009, while Obama was mulling strategy in Afghanistan, Reed expressed doubts about sending more troops and said the burden of proof was on commanders to justify a troop increase. Reed has traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan frequently, often straying from the safe zones. In October 2002, Reed opposed the Iraq war resolution, arguing that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld grossly underestimated the strength of anti-American insurgents in Iraq and failed to send in adequate troops and equipment. Reed was at the forefront of Democratic efforts in 2006 to convince President George W. Bush to redeploy forces in Iraq. On most issues, Reed has had a solidly liberal voting record. In February 2009, a National Journal examination of roll call votes dating to the 1980s found him to be the most liberal senator, slightly ahead of Barbara Boxer of California and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts. Since then, he has remained among the 20 most-liberal senators. He has supported extensions of unemployment benefits and work-share programs, like those in Rhode Island, in which employers reduce the hours of full-time employees in order to avoid layoffs during financial hard times. More recently, he has been instrumental in efforts to extend low interest rates for college student loans.