House Science staff reformulates

Michael Bloomquist, previously associate general counsel, has been promoted to chief counsel. He worked for the Patton Boggs law firm in Washington before joining the committee in March.

He earned his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s degree in environmental law from George Washington University. He replaces the late Barry Beringer, who died after a battle with pancreatic cancer earlier this fall.

Tim Hughes will serve as the committee’s new majority counsel. He has been assigned to the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. He was previously a communications lawyer at the Washington firm Drinker Biddle & Reath. Before that, he was an attorney in the office of the chief counsel for the U.S. Secret Service.

In 1994, Hughes earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He earned his law degree at the College of William and Mary.

Dan Byers has been promoted to Research Subcommittee staff director. He was previously subcommittee Chairman Nick Smith’s (R-Mich.) professional staff designee. He was the congressman’s legislative assistant and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) fellow before joining the committee in 2001.

Byers earned his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in 1997 and a master’s degree in soil science from North Carolina State University in 1999.

He replaces Peter Rooney, who became the full committee’s deputy staff director in July.

David Finger is Smith’s new subcommittee staff designee. He previously handled science issues as the congressman’s legislative assistant.

Before that, he worked for former Michigan Gov. John Engler (R) in his constituent-services division and his Washington, D.C., office.

Finger earned a bachelor’s degree in political economy from Michigan State University in 2000.

Kathryn Clay has been hired as the Energy Subcommittee’s professional staff designee for Chairwoman Judy Biggert (R-Ill.).

She was an independent consultant specializing in energy and environment issues before joining the subcommittee.

Clay earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from Kalamazoo College in 1990. She earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1996 and a doctorate in applied physics from the university in 2003.

Tammy Perrin has been promoted to staff director and clerk of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Energy and Water Development Subcommittee.

Before joining the subcommittee in 2001, she worked for six years as a professional staff member on the Appropriations Treasury and Government Subcommittee. Before that, the Colorado native handled appropriations issues for Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.).

Perrin earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Denver. She earned a master’s degree in international affairs from American University in 1992.