This database was last updated in October 2019 and should only be used as a historical snapshot. There may be new information that is not included here.
Staffers with Resumes
After discovering that the resumes of political appointees include information not revealed on their financial disclosure forms, Property of the People used data from Trump Town and Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain as many staff resumes as possible.
Todd Joseph Abrajano
Trade and Development (joined: Jan. 7, 2018)
Senior Advisor, Office of the Director | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Former Positions Outside Government
- 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee Public Liaison to DC Mayor's Office
- Turning Point Public, LLc President
Former Compensation Sources
- 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee Served as the Presidential Inaugural Committee's Public Liaison to the D.C. Mayor's Office
- Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. Provided consulting services.
- East Meridian Strategies, LLC Provided consulting services.
- Missouri Club for Growth Provided consulting services.
- Missourians for Randles Provided consulting services.
- SRCP Media, Inc Provided consulting services.
- Turning Point Public Affairs, LLC President of the firm, Responsible for all daily operations.
Rebeckah Adcock
Agriculture (joined: April 24, 2017)
Senior Advisor, Office of the Secretary | $170,000 | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Rebeckah Adcock was a senior director of government affairs at CropLife America, the trade association for pesticide manufacturers, where she lobbied USDA. Before that, she was director of congressional relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation, a trade group for farmers, where her portfolio included “USDA conservation programs.” — ProPublica
Former Positions Outside Government
- CropLife America Senior Director
Former Compensation Sources
- CropLife America Senior Director of Trade Assocation
Lobbied for
Edward Ajaeb departed Sept. 8, 2017
Office of National Drug Control Policy (joined: April 4, 2017)
Digital Engagement Specialist | $86,460 | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Bio, via Association of Independent Information Professionals:
Edward Ajaeb of Nighthawk Strategies specializes in private investigations, open source research, social media intelligence, and tools for uncovering the most elusive and hard-to-find information. He understands the critical importance of staying ahead of the curve when it comes to emerging technologies and digital tools in order to achieve the highest level of success in an investigation. He has worked for non-profits, government, individuals, law enforcement, and Fortune 500 companies to offer research, investigations, due diligence, security, and intelligence analysis.
Former Positions Outside Government
- Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce Analyst
- Nighthawk Strategies President
Former Compensation Sources
- Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce Research and analysis consulting
- Nighthawk Strategies Research and analysis consulting
Joseph Dale Alexander departed Sept. 16, 2017
Agriculture (joined: Jan. 20, 2017)
Special Assistant, Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs | $102,646 | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Bio, via The Illinois State Society of Washington, D.C.:
Joe Alexander is a central Illinois native and is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in history. While in Champaign he was a student athlete competing for the Fighting Illini in track and field and cross country. Governmentally, he served in the office of former US Congressman Tom Ewing of Pontiac. He speaks on a range of issues and served as a sports commentator for the Big Ten Network and ESPN3. In the private sector he has a background in real estate and previously served as in a business development role with a central Illinois architecture and engineering firm. He spent a year with the Trump Pence campaign in 2015 and 2016. He joined the Administration at the US Department of Agriculture in January of 2017.
Former Positions Outside Government
- Decatur Christian School Part-time teacher
- Mac Strategies Group Consultant and Public Affairs Specialist (Entered by reviewer. Sent back to filer for validation and corrections.)
Former Compensation Sources
- Decatur Christian School Part-time teacher
- Donald J. Trump for President Advanced team member. (Entered by reviewer with input from filer.)
- Mac Strategies Group Assisted with public affairs strategies. (Entered by reviewer, sent back to filer for validation and or corrections.)
Scott Anthony Angelle
Interior (joined: May 23, 2017)
Director, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement | $170,000 | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Former Positions Outside Government
- Angelle Enterprises Inc. Shareholder
- Farmers Merchants Bank and Trust Company Board Member
- J. Burton Angelle Jr. Children's Trust Trustee
- Louisiana Coast Port Advisory Commission (non-compensated) Chairman
- Louisiana Public Service Commission Member
- Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors (non-compensated) Board Member
- Louisiana Water Resources Commission (non-compensated) Chairman
- Planning Strategies, Inc. Member
- Southern States Energy Board Board member
- Sunoco Partners, LLC Board Member
Former Compensation Sources
- Copestone Inc Research Services
- Farmers Merchants Bank and Trust Company Board Member Services
- Louisiana Public Service Commission Management of activities prescribed by Louisiana Law
- Planning Strategies LLC Management of LLC
- Sunoco Logistics Partners LP Dividends
- Sunoco Pipeline LP Board Member Services
Brooke Shupe Appleton departed Feb. 1, 2019
Agriculture (joined: Sept. 25, 2017)
Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary | Resume »
Bio, via LinkedIn:
Brooke Appleton is currently serving as the chief of staff to the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Prior to joining USDA, Appleton served as the director of public policy and political strategy for the National Corn Growers Association. In this role, she was responsible for designing, implementing and advocating for NCGA policy in the areas of transportation and conservation. Brooke was also in charge of coordinating NCGA’s political action committee events and served as the DC office grassroots representative. Preceding her time at NCGA, Appleton served as the Director of government affairs for risk management at the National Association of Wheat Growers. At NAWG Appleton advocated for NAWG policy in the areas of federal crop insurance and federal farm programs. Before her time at NAWG, Appleton worked as professional staff of the House Small Business Committee under the panel’s chairman, Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), focusing on agriculture and environmental issues. She previously worked in Graves’ personal office, including as a legislative assistant handling issues such as immigration, trade and the environment in addition to the Congressman’s assignment to the House Committee on Agriculture. Appleton holds a Bachelor’s degree in agribusiness management with minors in international agriculture and political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She was raised on her family’s row crop and cattle farm near Stanberry, in northwest Missouri. Appleton is still heavily involved in the family’s farm and plans to continue the legacy that her great grandfather started.
Lobbied for
Michael Argo
Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) | $162,000 | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Former Positions Outside Government
- American Legion Post 43 Hollywood Member
- Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association AFCEA member
- Knights of Columbus Mount Vermon Council #5998 Member
- Los Angeles Vikings Charities Inactive Member
- Military Officers Association of America MOAA member
- SEAL Family Foundation Board of Directors
- UDT SEAL Association member
- University of North Carolina- Carolina Lettermen's Association Member
- Veterans of Foreign Wars Coronado member
Abigail R. Bacak
Special Assistant to the President for Presidential Appointments and Scheduling | $120,000 | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Former Positions Outside Government
- New Venture Fund Administrative Director
Former Compensation Sources
- New Venture Fund administrative director
Peter Owen Bachmann
Agriculture (joined: April 24, 2017)
Policy Advisor | Advisor, Office of Congressional Relations | $101,116 | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Bio, via USA Rice Federation:
Peter comes to USA Rice from the National Association of Conservation Districts in Washington, DC. He has had a variety of internships at ag-related businesses and grew up in Fallston, Maryland and showed livestock as a member of 4-H. He attended Iowa State University where he studied Animal Science for two semesters before transferring to Virginia Tech where he obtained his B.S. in Dairy Science with a Concentration of Dairy Enterprise Management.
Former Positions Outside Government
- National Association of Conservation Districts Policy Specialist
- USA Rice Federation Manager of Government Affairs
Former Compensation Sources
- National Association of Conservation Non-Profit; Position as Policy Specialist
- USA Rice Federation Non-Profit; Manager of Government Affairs
Joseph Balash
Interior (joined: Sept. 19, 2017)
Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Richard Anthony Balzano
Transportation (joined: Oct. 29, 2017)
Deputy Administrator | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Thomas P. Baptiste
Interior (joined: Jan. 31, 2017)
Special Assistant to the Secretary | $94,796 | Financial Disclosure » | Financial disclosure not required to be publicly released for this position | Resume »
Todd Allen Batta departed June 1, 2019
Farm Credit Administration (joined: Oct. 18, 2017)
Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Board | Resume »
Lobbied for
Erika L. Baum
Transportation (joined: Jan. 26, 2017)
Executive Assistant to the Secretary | Resume »
Lobbied for
Christine Bauserman
Interior (joined: Jan. 20, 2017)
Special Assistant to the Secretary | $73,846 | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Preston Richard Beard
Interior (joined: June 5, 2017)
Advisor | $94,796 | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Kathleen M.F. Benedetto
Interior (joined: Jan. 25, 2017)
Special Assistant to the Secretary | Senior Advisor | $131,767 | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Donald M. Benton
Selective Service System (joined: April 11, 2017)
Director | $126,148-$189,600 | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Bio, via Selective Service System:
Mr. Benton served one term in the Washington State House of Representatives and then served as a Senator in the Washington State Senate for 20 years from 1997 to 2017. He earlier served two terms as an elected college trustee on the Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees. Mr. Benton started his first company when he was 17 years old, and has built and sold several successful companies since. Mr. Benton served as the Director of the Clark County Environmental Services Department from 2013 to 2016. During his tenure he reduced the cost of removing hazardous waste from the waste stream while doubling citizen participation and tripling the tonnage of hazardous waste removed. Mr. Benton was also responsible for Clark County certifying more Green Schools than any other county in Washington State. Mr. Benton also led a seamless transition of power for the new administration at the Environmental Protection Agency. He served as a senior White House advisor to President Trump. Mr. Benton was raised in a military family. His father is a retired Navy officer and both of his brothers also served in the military. One is a decorated Army veteran and the other served as a Navy pilot who flew 93 combat missions.
Former Positions Outside Government
- Clark County, WA Director
Former Compensation Sources
- Clark County Department Director-Managed Budgets and personnel for four divisions.
- Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. Northwest Political Director and Senior Advisor- Managed all campaign staff and directed volunteers and responded to all press as a surrogate for the candidate.
- National Consulting Services CEO emeritus/ No longer actively managing corporation. When employed I managed all aspects of the business
- WA State Senate Senator-Authored and sponsored legislation, voted on legislation, performed constituent relations work and interfaced with press
David L. Bernhardt
Interior (joined: July 25, 2017)
Acting Secretary of the Interior | Deputy Secretary of the Interior | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Former Positions Outside Government
- Bernhardt Brothers Land and Cattle, LLC Managing Member (LLC dissolved in March 2017, subsequent to the submission date.)
- Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck, LLP Shareholder
- Center for Environmental Science Accuracy and Reliabilty Board Member/volunt eer (The start date is based upon a good faith estimate, and this was a non-compensated position from which I resigned subsequent to the submission date.)
- Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries Board Member/guber natorial term appointment
Former Compensation Sources
- Active Network LLC Legal Services
- Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck, LLP Legal services
- Cadiz Inc. Legal services
- Cobalt International Energy Legal services
- Forest County Potawatomi Community Legal Services
- Garrrision Diversion Irrigation District Legal services
- Independent Petroleum Association of America Legal services
- Lafarge North American -- Western Region Legal services
- NRG Energy, Inc. Legal services
- Noble Energy Company LLC Legal Services
- Rosemont Copper Company Legal services
- Safari Club International -- Foundation Legal Services
- Sempra Energy Legal services
- Statoil Gulf Services LLC Legal services
- Targa Resources Company LLC Legal services
- Taylor Energy Company LLC Legal services
- Westlands Water District Legal services
Lobbied for
- Access Industries
- Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks, Design, build, and maintain high-speed submarine networks
- Aspira (f.r.a. Active Network LLC)
- Association of American Publishers
- Coastal Point Energy LLC
- Cobalt International Energy
- Diamond Ventures, Inc., Real estate development
- First Wind Energy, LLC
- Freeport LNG Expansion
- Hudbay Minerals (fra Rosemont Copper Company)
- Navajo Nation
- Otay Water District
- Samson Resources Company
- Strata Production Company
- Vail Resorts Management Company
- Westlands Water District
David Drew Blair departed Sept. 30, 2017
Agriculture (joined: Jan. 20, 2017)
Confidential Assistant | Deputy Press Secretary | $79,720 | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Bio, via The Leadership Institute:
David Blair is currently the Director of the Youth Leadership School (YLS), nicknamed the "boot camp of politics", at the Leadership Institute. He travels the country training principled conservatives how to win for the candidate or cause of their choice. David was formally the National Director of Youth for Trump, the official youth movement of President Donald J. Trump, Youth Outreach Coordinator for the Office of Nationwide Engagement on the Presidential Transition Team, and a Presidential appointee in the Trump administration. David spent his time on the Trump campaign working with thousands of students and young people from all over the United States to organize a mass-based youth effort for our President. Prior to his role on the campaign David occupied his current position as the Leadership Institute's Director of the Youth Leadership School. David left the YLS to join the campaign in Trump Tower. Prior to taking on the role of director, David was a Regional Field Coordinator (RFC) for the West Coast, and later, the Mid-West region of the United States. Before his work as an RFC, David was a Leadership Institute Field Representative in Michigan where he fought against liberal bias and abuse, full-time, on college campuses. David identified over seventeen hundred conservative students during his time in Michigan and organized dozens of successful recruitment and activism events. An alumnus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, David co-founded SIUC Young Americans for Liberty chapter which started a dialogue of liberty that is still present on that campus today.
Former Compensation Sources
- Insperity PEO Services National Director- Youth for Trump
- The Leadership Institute Youth Leadership School- Director
Robert I. Blau
Millennium Challenge Corporation (joined: May 28, 2017)
Vice President, Department of Compact Operations | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Former Positions Outside Government
- Torah Academy of Jacksonville Teacher
Former Compensation Sources
- Torah Academy of Jacksonville Part-time teacher
Megan B. Bloomgren departed May 26, 2017
Interior (joined: Jan. 31, 2017)
Special Assistant to the Secretary | Financial disclosure not required to be publicly released for this position | Resume »
John Bockmier
Senior Advisor for Strategic Communication and Outreach | $112,021 | Financial Disclosure » | Resume »
Former Compensation Sources
- M.T. & M Gaming Consulting Fees
- Michel's Development Consulting Fees