Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR), incoming Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today continued staff announcements for the 115th Congress. Mr. Walden announced earlier this month that Mike Bloomquist, Karen Christian, Peter Kielty, and Paul Edattel will continue to serve the committee.
“I couldn’t be happier with the team we are assembling going into the 115th Congress. The Energy and Commerce Committee will be staffed by hard working, qualified professionals dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing issues facing our nation," said Chairman-elect Walden.
Today’s staff announcements include:
Jen Barblan, Chief Counsel, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Barblan will serve as Chief Counsel for the Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations. She has served as a counsel to the subcommittee since October 2015. Jen previously spent time as a Senior Counsel at the Committee on Oversight & Government Reform and in private practice.
Paul Edattel, Chief Counsel, Subcommittee on Health
As previously announced, Edattel will continue to serve as Chief Counsel to the Subcommittee on Health. Paul started with the committee in 2011 and has served as Chief Health Counsel since 2016, after serving Speaker John Boehner as his Health Policy Advisor. Paul also served as a Legislative Director in the House of Representatives before joining the committee.
Tom Hassenboehler, Chief Counsel, Energy and Environment
Hassenboehler will continue to serve as Chief Counsel to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power and will begin serving as Chief Counsel to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy. Previously, he worked at the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works under Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK) as Counsel, with a focus on Clean Air Act issues. Hassenboehler also previously worked for the Energy and Commerce Committee under former Chairmen Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and Joe Barton (R-TX) from 2003-2008, as well as various roles in the private sector.
Paul Nagle, Chief Counsel, Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
Nagle will continue to serve as Chief Counsel to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, a position he has held since 2014. Paul has also served in the Senate as the Chief Counsel for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, along with several positions in the private sector and at the Federal Communications Commission.
David Redl, Chief Counsel, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Redl will continue serving as Chief Counsel for the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. He has served in that role since 2013, previously serving the committee as Counsel from 2011 to 2013. Prior to joining the committee, David held several positions in the private sector.
Jordan Davis, Director of Policy and External Affairs
Davis will serve as Director of Policy and External Affairs. Jordan served as Policy Director and Communications Advisor for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) for the past four years. Jordan’s previous experience includes serving at the NRCC during the 2010 election cycle, as Chief of Staff to former Rep. Rick Berg (R-ND), and as a Legislative Director and in other various legislative positions in the House of Representatives.
Tim Pataki, Senior Advisor for Member Services, Coalitions, and Legislative Operations
Pataki will serve as the Senior Advisor for Member Services, Coalitions, and Legislative Operations. Since joining the committee in August 2014, Pataki has held several different roles. Before joining the Energy & Commerce Committee, Pataki worked for former Majority Leader Eric Cantor and current Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Adam Fromm, Director of Coalitions and Outreach
Fromm will serve as Director of Coalitions and Outreach. He joins the committee from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) where he served as Senior Policy Advisor. He has previously served as the Director of Member Services and Committee Operations for the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Further, Adam has spent time in the private sector, with Speaker Hastert’s political staff, and at the NRCC under Chairmen Davis and Reynolds.
Hamlin Wade, Special Advisor for External Affairs
Wade will serve as Special Advisor for External Affairs. Most recently, he served as the Director of Advance, Travel, and Scheduling at the National Republican Congressional Committee. Wade has also worked in Chairman-elect Walden’s personal office in various capacities.
Zach Hunter, Director of Communications
Hunter will serve as Director of Communications for the committee. Hunter was previously a Regional Press Secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, covering the Midwest and West. Hunter has also served as Director of Communications for Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), as well as other roles on the Hill and in the private sector.
Dan Schneider, Press Secretary
Schneider will continue to serve as Press Secretary for the committee. Dan has served as the committee’s primary spokesman for energy, environment, telecommunications, and auto safety issues since 2015. He previously served as Press Secretary for Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) before joining the committee.
Jennifer Sherman, Press Secretary
Sherman will continue to serve as a Press Secretary for the committee. Jennifer has been the primary spokesperson for health care issues before the Health and Oversight and Investigations subcommittees, since she started with the committee in 2015. Prior to joining the committee, Jennifer also served as a Director of Communications for Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY).
Blair Ellis, Press Secretary and Digital Coordinator
Ellis will continue serving as Press Secretary and Digital Coordinator for the committee, where she will serve as spokeswoman for the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade while overseeing the committee’s digital portfolio and media booking. Before joining the committee, she served as Director of Communications for Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC).
Gary Andres, current Staff Director
Andres will continue to serve the committee in an advisory role to facilitate the transition into the 115th Congress.
