WASHINGTON, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) announced the senior staff for the committee Republicans in the 116th Congress, which includes several Capitol Hill veterans returning in key roles.
“The team we’ve organized for the 116th Congress is second to none. The Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans are again staffed by a group of highly qualified professionals dedicated to public service and to supporting the work of our Republican members," said Walden.
Today’s staff announcements include:
Mike Bloomquist, Staff Director
Bloomquist will continue to serve as Staff Director for the Energy and Commerce Republicans, a position he held in the 115th Congress. Mike previously served as the committee Deputy Staff Director, General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, as well as General Counsel to the 2011 Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. Further, Mike has spent time in private practice, at the Committee on Science, and in the Office of the Solicitor at the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Ryan Long, Deputy Staff Director
Long will continue to serve as Deputy Staff Director for the Energy and Commerce Republicans, a position he held in the 115th Congress. Ryan returned to the committee in March of 2018 after spending five years in private practice. Ryan had previously spent a decade at Energy and Commerce in various roles including Professional Staff Member, counsel, and Chief Health Counsel under then Chairmen Joe Barton and Fred Upton.
Peter Kielty, General Counsel
Kielty will serve as General Counsel for the Energy and Commerce Republicans. In the 115th Congress, Peter served as Deputy General Counsel, a position he had held since 2012. Peter is a 20-year veteran of the committee.
Jordan N. Davis, Senior Advisor
Davis will continue to serve as Senior Advisor for the Energy and Commerce Republicans, a position he also held in the 115th Congress, advising on overall communications, outreach, and legislative strategies. Prior to E&C, Jordan served as Policy Director and Communications Advisor for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in the 2014 and 2016 election cycles. Jordan’s previous experience includes serving as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to former Rep. Rick Berg (R-ND), as Legislative Research Director at the NRCC during the 2010 election cycle, and as legislative staff to former Rep. Thelma Drake (R-VA).
Zack Roday, Communications Director
Roday will serve as Communications Director for the Energy and Commerce Republicans. Zack most recently served as Communications Director for the Republican Attorneys General Association. Previously on Capitol Hill, Zack served as a spokesman for Speaker Paul Ryan’s national political organization and as Communications Director for Rep. David Young (R-IA), as well as in other roles both on the Hill and on political campaigns.
Robin Colwell, Chief Counsel, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Colwell will continue to serve as the Republican Communications and Technology Chief Counsel, a position she also held in the 115th Congress. Prior to E&C, Robin served as FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly’s Chief of Staff, as Legislative Counsel for Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), and as Counsel at the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation’s Subcommittee on Tourism, Competitiveness, and Innovation.
Melissa Froelich, Chief Counsel, Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce
Froelich will continue to serve as the Republican Consumer Protection and Commerce [formerly the Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection (DCCP)] Chief Counsel, a position she also held in the 115th Congress. Melissa has served on E&C since July 2014, first as Counsel for the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade and then as Counsel for DCCP. Melissa began her career in Washington at the National Retail Federation.
Mary Martin, Chief Counsel, Energy Subcommittee and Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee
Martin will continue to serve as the Republican Energy and Environment & Climate Change Chief Counsel, a position she also held in the 115th Congress. Mary first joined E&C in 2017, previously serving as Deputy Chief Counsel for the Energy and Environment subcommittees. Prior to E&C, Mary served as policy counsel and committee executive to the Environment, Technology & Regulatory Affairs Division at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Before joining the Chamber, she was an attorney in private practice.
James “J.P." Paluskiewicz, Chief Counsel, Subcommittee on Health
Paluskiewicz will continue to serve as the Republican Health Chief Counsel, a position he also held late in the 115th Congress. Previously, J.P. served as a Professional Staff Member for the Health subcommittee. Prior to E&C, J.P. served for nearly seven years as Deputy Chief of Staff to Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX). J.P. also served as Legislative Director and Health Policy Advisor to the late Rep. Charlie Norwood, D.D.S. (R-GA) for nearly five years before Norwood’s death in 2007. J.P. is also an adjunct professor of graduate courses at George Washington University.
Jen Barblan, Chief Counsel, Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations
Barblan will continue to serve as the Republican Oversight & Investigations Chief Counsel, a position she also held in the 115th Congress. Jen served as a counsel to the subcommittee from October 2015 to January 2017. She previously spent time as a Senior Counsel at the Committee on Oversight & Government Reform and in private practice.
Adam “Buck" Buckalew, Director of Coalitions and Deputy Chief Counsel for the Health Subcommittee Republicans
Buckalew will serve as Director of Coalitions for the Energy and Commerce Republicans. Since 2016, Buck has served as a professional staff member on the Health Subcommittee. Prior to E&C, he served on the staffs of U.S. Reps. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Gregg Harper (R-MS). In the 116th Congress, Buck will also serve as the Republican Deputy Chief Counsel for Health.
