Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) has hired a number of new staff members for the various Commerce, Science and Transportation subcommittees, including 10 who are now staff directors.

Thomas Jones has been brought on board as the new staff director for the subcommittee on disaster prevention and prediction. Prior to his new position, he served as deputy director for Congressional affairs at the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education.

Jones holds a bachelor’s in political science and philosophy from Northeastern University and calls Baltimore home.

Wally Hsueh has been appointed staff director for the subcommittee on trade, tourism and economic development. He has spent the past eight years in the office of Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), most recently as a legislative assistant and policy adviser.

In addition to his work with Smith, Hsueh has been in the employ of the House Government Reform Committee under then-Reps. Bill Clinger (R-Pa.) and Steve Horn (R-Calif.). The Los Angeles native graduated from California State University at Long Beach with a bachelor’s in communications.

Jarrod Thompson has been brought on board as staff director for the subcommittee on aviation. Originally in Washington, D.C., as an intern for Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), he most recently advised Burns on issues related to the Commerce and Appropriations committees.

Although he now calls Laurel, Mont., home, Thompson was born in Billings. He graduated from Montana State University in 1999 with a bachelor’s in psychology.

Jeff Bingham has been brought on board to serve as staff director for the subcommittee on science and space. Most recently, Bingham worked for NASA in a number of capacities and spent 16 years in the office of then-Sen. Jake Garn (R-Utah). Bingham graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s in political science.

Jason Mulvihill is the new staff director for the subcommittee on technology, innovation and competitiveness. Prior to joining the subcommittee, Mulvihill worked as an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom in D.C., practicing antitrust law.

Before attending law school, Mulvihill worked at Crusader Entertainment in Los Angeles, analyzing screenplays for movies that included Academy Award winner, “Ray.” The Farmington, Conn., native graduated from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s in history, as well as Columbia Law School.[IMGCAP(1)]

Garret Graves will take over as staff director for the subcommittee on global climate change. He has spent time on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee. From 1995 to 2004 he worked for then-Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.), who chaired Energy and Commerce. Although originally from Baton Rouge, La., Graves now calls Washington, D.C., home.

Chris Bertram has been promoted to staff director for the subcommittee on surface transportation and merchant marines. He was formerly a senior professional staff member for the aviation subcommittee.

He previously worked as staff director for the House Transportation subcommittee on highways and transit, as chief financial officer and assistant administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration, and as senior analyst at the Office of Management and Budget.

Drew Minkiewicz, previously senior counsel on the committee, has been promoted to staff director for the subcommittee on fisheries and Coast Guard. He started in the office in 2001.

Minkiewicz previously served as a SeaGrant fellow under then-Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber (D). A native of Wayland, Mass., he holds a bachelor’s from Colby College and a law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law.

Mark Delich, who previously worked as a staff assistant on the communications subcommittee, has been promoted to research assistant for the subcommittees on trade, tourism and economic development; technology, innovation and competitiveness; and consumer affairs, product safety and insurance. The Tucson, Ariz., native holds a bachelor’s in history from Arizona State University.

Ryan Breitenbach has been brought on board as staff director and counsel for the subcommittee on consumer affairs, product safety and insurance. Previously, Breitenbach served as deputy general counsel and research analyst for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The Washington, D.C., native received his bachelor’s from Boston College and his law degree from Salmon P. Chase College of Law.

Grant Bosse takes over as staff director for the national ocean policy study subcommittee. He used to work for Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.) as an aide dealing with issues related to Social Security, and has also spent time as the political director for the Benson for Governor campaign in 2002 and as a senior legislative assistant for the New Hampshire House Majority Office. Bosse holds a bachelor’s in government from Dartmouth and calls Hillsboro, N.H., home.