Defense: 10 Staffers to Know

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“I don’t think there’s anyone up here who doesn’t realize the vital role [lobbyists] play and how absolutely essential they are to the process.”

He added: “My boss might have a slightly different view.”

A defense lobbyist described Niemeyer as “very capable” and “technical,” and warned that it’s important to do your homework before approaching him.

Niemeyer predicted that it’s going to be a big year on his committee for military hardware systems. Complicating matters, however, is that with a tight budget, Congressional check-writers are going to have to do more with less.

A veteran of the contentious Base Closure and Realignment Commission process of 2005 — a process he called “an abject failure” — Niemeyer said he works closely with Democratic staff and “can’t really think of one issue where my majority counterpart and I haven’t completely agreed what the right thing is to do for our troops.”

Chris Paul, professional staff, Senate Armed Services Committee, minority
Age: 50
Birthplace: Naval Air Engineering Station, Lakehurst, N.J.
Education: B.S., U.S. Naval Academy
Military: Rear Adm., Navy Reserve

Paul is particularly proud of the contributions he made to Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) work reining in defense contractor abuse over the past decade.

“We helped put oversight back into Congress,” Paul said.

In the coming months, Paul will help the committee craft the 2010 defense budget and will continue to work on acquisition reform, another McCain priority.

Described by one defense lobbyist as a “very passionate person,” Paul said taxpayers are increasingly frustrated with defense acquisitions programs.

“When you have a presidential helicopter that is the most expensive helicopter in the world at $500 million a copy, it causes great pause and people wonder what’s going on up here,” he said.

The lobbyist said defense matters are not simply academic matters to Paul.

“He brings a lot of strong passion to the issues he believes in,” the lobbyist said. “I’ve found him to be someone I could always work with, but he has very strong views.”

Brian Potts, professional staff, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, minority
Age: 37
Birthplace: Philipsburg, Pa.
Education: B.A., Indiana University of Pennsylvania

A self-described “numbers guy,” Potts is a certified public accountant who got his start in the Naval Audit Service.

These days, Potts spends the bulk of his time working on next year’s defense spending bills, which are requiring appropriators and their staffs to stretch defense dollars more than they have in the past.

“We just completed work on the ’09 supplemental appropriations bill [and] we’re turning our focus to the fiscal year 2010 Defense appropriations bill as well as the 2010 overseas contingency operations funding — that will be our focus for the remainder of the year,” he said. “During that debate, there will be a lot of discussion on [Defense] Secretary [Robert] Gates’ recent announcements on major acquisition programs, cancellations and terminations.”

Defense lobbyists beamed about Potts, whom one K Streeter called “very accessible” and “straightforward,” with another lobbyist going so far to say that he loves the aide to death. “Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but it’s not going to be a painful meeting,” the second lobbyist said.

Potts said he keeps an open mind when dealing with industry representatives.

“He’s willing to get down in the weeds in a lot of these things,” the defense lobbyist noted.

Arun Seraphin, professional staff, Senate Armed Services Committee, majority
Age: 39
Birthplace: Long Island, N.Y.
Education: B.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Arun Seraphin said his job provides a perfect place “where our research can have a positive effect on the lives of the troops.”

Seraphin’s role on the committee is to review the Department of Defense’s science and technology and information technology programs. He acknowledges good ideas can come from anywhere, so he always makes time to hear out defense observers and industry consultants on their issues.

“We listen to as many ideas as we can,” he said.

His colleagues say his understanding of highly technical science and technology programs at the Pentagon — he earned his Ph.D. in materials engineering — impresses them.

And Seraphin also has nice things to say about his co-workers.

“The best part about working on Capitol Hill is being around knowledgeable colleagues,” he said. “The public thinks we’re just a bunch of 26-year-olds working here. That’s not true. The fact is we have an experienced, fantastic and impressive staff.”