McKeon Names Communications Director,

Lead Staff on Education Policy

WASHINGTON , D.C. – House Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) today announced new additions to the Committee’s leadership team.  Steve Forde has been tapped as Communications Director, while the Committee’s education policy staff will be headed by Susan Ross, who takes the reins as Director of Education and Human Services Policy, and Rich Stombres, who will serve as Deputy Director of Education and Human Services Policy.

Forde has been the panel’s chief spokesman on workforce policy, taking the lead on issues ranging from retirement security to job training to health care.  He also served for several years as press secretary for former Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH).  Forde replaces Kevin Smith, who is now Communications Director for Boehner in the office of the House Majority Leader.

Ross is a former budget analyst for the Education & the Workforce Committee, as well as a former professional staffer for the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.  She returns to Capitol Hill after most recently serving as Vice President for B&D Consulting in Washington, where she worked with both the Bush Administration and Congress on matters impacting education, health care, disability policy, and social services.  Ross replaces Sally Lovejoy, who will depart the Committee at the end of April after 25 years on Capitol Hill.

Stombres has been with the Committee since 1997 and most recently supervised the development of legislation related to many Committee-related issues, including early childhood education, elementary and secondary education, job training, older Americans, and teacher quality.  He also served in the mid-1990s with the House Science Committee.  Stombres replaces Krisann Pearce, who recently completed nearly a decade of service at the Education & the Workforce Committee.

“I’m pleased with the team we’ve assembled over the past several months,” said McKeon.  “Rich, Susan, and Steve will play key roles in the success of our Committee, during the balance of this year and into the next Congress.”

# # # # #