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Recess Special

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Caught Our Eye

A lobbyist-turned-House chief of staff has returned to the government affairs industry.

Adam Brand is now director of public policy and government affairs at Biogen Idec. The biotechnology company's work focuses on the research and discovery of new therapies for neurological and autoimmune disorders.

Brand most recently served as chief of staff for Rep. Linda Sánchez, (D-Calif.) starting in 2010. He became Rep. Patrick Kennedy's (D-R.I.) chief of staff in 2007, following a three-year stint at lobbying heavyweight Akin Gump. Between 1997 and 2001 Brand worked as a communications aide for then-House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.).

Brand's father is prominent Washington, D.C. lawyer, Stanley Brand. Since founding the Brand Law Group in 1983, Stan Brand has made a name for himself as an inside-the-Beltway power player. A criminal defense attorney, he has developed a speciality in ethics and has represented many members of Congress who have found themselves in hot water.

Adam Brand earned a BA from Skidmore College in 1997 and a JD from Georgetown Law in 2004.

Some people and organizations who "caught our eye" last week:

Trending Staffers› learn more

Rexon Y. Ryu, Chief of Staff for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (former staffer) – Bravo!
Chuck stakes future on Rexon
Preet Bharara, Chief Counsel for Senate Judiciary Committee (former staffer) – Bravo!
Gray Lady gives him color
Andrew D. Jones, Legislative Director/Counsel for Representative Ben Ray Luján (current staffer) – Don't Know
Michele Lawrence Jawando, General Counsel/Senior Adviser for Sen. Kirsten Rutnik Gillibrand (D-NY) (current staffer) – Don't Know
Mark E. Powden, Chief of Staff for Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) (current staffer) – Uh oh!
Loses his independent voice

Hill Hires

Joseph Jankiewicz (Joe), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Senior Legislative Assistant
Christopher S. Hillesheim (Chris), Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Legislative Director
Leigh Greden, Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), Chief of Staff

Hill Departures

Jacqueline M. Cornell-Bechelli (Jackie Cornell), now Region II Director for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, formerly Director of Outreach to Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ)
Christine E. Yankou, now Political Affairs Coordinator for Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc., formerly Scheduler/Executive Assistant to Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)
Katie Julia Murtha, now Chief Policy Officer for Ducks Unlimited Inc., formerly Chief of Staff to Rep. John Dingell (D-MI)

Hill Moves and Promotions

Cheri Kelle Long (Kelle), now Director of Social Media for Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM)
(formerly Press Assistant/Staff Assistant to Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO))
Kalina Bakalov, now Legislative Director for Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
(formerly Senior Legislative Assistant)
Austen William Jensen, now Chief of Staff for Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC)
(formerly Deputy Chief of Staff/Legislative Director to Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-NC))

Revolvers

Sean Winkler,
Lobbies for: Seaboard Corp.
Most recent congressional employment: Rep. Bob Turner (R-NY)
Gary Charles Meltz,
Lobbies for: AUX Initiatives LLC
Most recent congressional employment: Rep. Eliot Lance Engel (D-NY), Rep. David Phelps (D-IL)
Gregory Thomas Kiley (Greg),
Lobbies for: AUX Initiatives LLC
Most recent congressional employment: Senate Republican Policy Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee