Potomac Flacks

DNI, ICE Vet Feinstein Named TSA Press Secretary

Ross Feinstein is the new Press Secretary for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

He was spokesman at Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from 2010-2013 and Deputy Press Secretary at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) from 2005-2010.

In 2003 he worked in communications at the U.S. Mission to the U.N. and in 2002 he worked in corporate communications at The New York Times.

He is a 2005 graduate of Union College.  (PF tipster)

Cunningham Leaving Shirley & Bannister to Return to Capitol Hill

Jameson Cunningham announced to friends on Friday that he was returning to Capitol Hill to serve as Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL), effective Aug. 1.

Cunningham joined Shirley & Bannister Public Affairs (SBPA) as an Account Executive in 2010, where he coordinated media for the Susan B. Anthony List, Movieguide, and the Traditional Values Coalition, as well as book promotion for authors like Judge Andrew Napolitano and former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK).  Previously, he served as Press Secretary to U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter (R-MI).

He is a native of the Chicago area and a graduate of Hillsdale College in Michigan.  (PF tipster)

Byrd Returns to U.S. News & World Report as Communications and Public Relations Manager

Per Fishbowl DC, Lucy Byrd has returned to U.S. News & World Report as its new Communications and Public Relations Manager.

She previously served there as a media booker from 2008-2010.  She has also worked at The Atlantic and for Duke University.  (Fishbowl DC)

NRCC Hires Clark as Digital Press Secretary

Per Roll Call’s “Shop Talk,” Andrew Clark has been hired as Digital Press Secretary at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).  Previously, Clark worked at Hynes Communications, where his portfolio included Gabriel Gomez’s special-election U.S. Senate bid in Massachusetts.

Clark is a native of Newport Beach, CA and a graduate of The George Washington University.  (Roll Call’s “Shop Talk”)

YG Network Names Bond as Communications Director

Conservative nonprofit 501 (c)(4) YG Network has named Chris Bond as Communications Director.  Bond was previously Press Secretary for the National Republican Senatorial Campaign committee (NRSC).  Bond will be assisted in the communications shop by Mark Bednar.

In addition, YG Network has named as policy advisers National Review Institute President Kate O’Beirne, Purple Policy head Michael Ramley and Winston Group Vice President Kristen Soltis Anderson. (PF tipster)

Former Aide to Sens. Kyl & Flake Andrew Wilder Hired by Gov. Brewer

First reported by The Arizona Republic, Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ) appointed Andrew Wilder as her new Communications Director and official spokesman.  He replaces Matthew Benson, who left to join the lobbying and public affairs firm Veridus.

Wilder was most recently spokesman for the Arizona Department of Corrections.  Previously he was Communications Director for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of then-U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and before that, for Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ).

Wilder is a graduate of the University of Arizona and a native of Phoenix.  (Arizona Republic)

Booker Hires Obama 2012 vet Zukowski as Campaign Deputy Press Secretary

First reported by Roll Call’s “Shop Talk,” Mayor Cory Booker (D-Newark) hired another Obama 2012 operative for his Senate campaign.  Sarah Zukowski signed on as his Deputy Press Secretary. Previously, she worked for the president’s re-election campaign in New Hampshire. A former staffer to former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), she also worked for the Glover Park Group.  (Roll Call’s “Shop Talk”)

Former Biden Flack Alexander Joins FTI Consulting

First reported by Politico’s Mike Allen, FTI Consulting Inc., the global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance their enterprise value announced that Elizabeth Alexander, a former aide and Press Secretary to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, has been appointed Managing Director with the firm's Strategic Communications segment in Washington, D.C.

Alexander will advise clients on communications strategies involving legislative, regulatory and investigative matters across broad sectors of the economy.

Alexander began her five-year tenure with Vice President Biden in 2006, first as then-Sen. Biden's (D-DE) Press Secretary and later as Communications Director.

Most recently, Alexander worked for the U.S. Department of Justice as a federal prosecutor, first in Washington, DC, and then in Alexandria, VA.

During this time, Alexander, who earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, managed and prosecuted a large criminal caseload along with advising the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia on strategic planning and media relations.

Alexander is a graduate of Texas A&M University.  (Politico’s Mike Allen)

Keil Departing Purple Strategies for ExxonMobil in Dallas

Politico’s Mike Allen reports that Dick Keil is leaving Purple Strategies to move to Dallas to join ExxonMobil as Senior Adviser for Global Public Affairs.

According to Allen, “he joins the world's largest corporation (by revenue) after nearly seven years in media consulting, and, prior to that, a 20-year career at AP and Bloomberg.  Joining him in Dallas will be his fiancée, Hillary DeParde. His proposal to Hillary occurred on June 21, in Dallas, the night before they went on their first house-hunting trip.” (Politico’s Mike Allen)

Leieritz Promoted at House Small Business Cmte

Jeff Leieritz has been promoted to Deputy Press Secretary at the House Small Business Committee, under the chairmanship of Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO).  Jeff was promoted from the position of Director of New Media, and Clerk before that.

Before joining the Committee as a staff assistant in January 2011, Leieritz worked for political consulting company, Axiom Strategies, in 2010. His campaign experience includes working on John Oxendine for Governor in Georgia, Mike Thompson for Congress in Oklahoma, and Carl DeMaio for San Diego City Council in California.

He is a graduate of San Diego State University and will be getting married to Anna Lake, who is Legislative Council for Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV), this December.  (PF tipster)