Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is handing out promotions in his communications department like they were candy. [IMGCAP(1)]

Aaron Saunders, 30, will now serve as communications director in the office after having served as press secretary since July.

Prior to working in Stevens’ personal office, Saunders worked as deputy communications director, press secretary and ultimately as communications director for the then-Stevens-chaired Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee from 2005 to 2006. From 2003 to 2005 he was a press assistant and deputy press secretary in Stevens’ personal office. Before coming to Capitol Hill, he worked for the Alaska SeaLife Center as its public relations manager.

Saunders wrote in an e-mail that he “recently took up marathon running as a hobby,” which is sort of like saying: “I recently took up advanced theoretical physics just for kicks.” In any respect, it is impressive.

From Piqua, Ohio, Saunders graduated from Miami University of Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in history and American studies in 1999. He earned a master’s degree in political communication from Georgetown University in 2006.

Also promoted on Stevens’ communications team is Steve Wackowski, 25. Wackowski now will serve as special assistant and deputy press secretary in the office.

Prior to receiving the promotion, Wackowski worked for Stevens as a professional staff member on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee since July. He also worked as a research assistant and staff assistant on the committee since 2005.

As Roll Call reported in December, Wackowski, who serves in the Air Force Reserve, was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in November for nine days.

“During part of my mission there, I distributed toys to Afghan orphans,” he wrote in an e-mail. “My colleagues on the Committee and throughout the Senate are collecting toys and clothing for the next time I go back.”

From Anchorage, Alaska, Wackowski earned degrees in computer science and political science from St. Mary’s College of California in 2005. Having been enrolled in the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the University of California at Berkeley since 2000, he earned a commission in the Air Force Reserve upon graduation.

Finally, Brian Hughes, 24, has been promoted to speechwriter in the office.

He previously served as a staff assistant for Stevens and spent two summers interning in the office.

The Anchorage, Alaska, native graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University with a degree in finance and a minor in history in May 2006.

She’s Back. After leaving Capitol Hill in 2005 to spend time with her family, Patricia Sarcone has surfaced again. The longtime aide to former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) will now work for EDS. According to a statement, Sarcone “will be responsible for a range of issues, including financial services and electronic commerce” for the global technology services company.

“We are pleased that Pat has joined the EDS team,” EDS executive director of Congressional relations Randolph Dove said in a statement. “Her knowledge of how the Senate works is a great asset and her perspectives on the institution will add greatly to the EDS government affairs team.”

Sarcone, who worked as a special assistant to Daschle from 1995 to 2005, served as executive assistant to former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-Maine) from 1989 to 1994. Prior to that, she was executive assistant to former Vice President Walter Mondale from 1981 to 1987. She also worked as a personal assistant to then-Sen. John Culver (D-Iowa) from 1975 to 1981 and as a staff assistant to the late Sen. Harold Hughes (D-Iowa) from 1969 to 1974.

The politics and jazz enthusiast graduated from Saint Mary University with a degree in business administration. She is from Des Moines, Iowa.

Onward. Waldo McMillan, 27, has left the Hill to become vice president and general counsel for One Economy Corp. He previously served as counsel for business affairs and strategic outreach for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

“Waldo McMillan is skilled, committed and experienced,” One Economy’s CEO Rey Ramsey said in a statement. “We are excited to have him join One Economy’s leadership team and look forward to working with him in the years ahead.”

Before working for Reid, McMillan was an associate at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell.

McMillan, who said in an e-mail that he is an “ordained elder in his church,” earned his bachelor’s degree from Howard University and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He hails from Wilmington, Del.

Changes for Chandler. Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.) has made some staff changes in his office.

After working as the campaign manager on former Rep. Ken Lucas’ (D-Ky.) unsuccessful bid to return to the House, Jim Creevy, 28, returns to the office of his old boss as legislative director. He previously served as a legislative assistant for Chandler from 2005 to 2006. [IMGCAP(2)]

Prior to working with Chandler, Creevy was a legislative assistant for Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) in 2005 and a staff assistant, legislative correspondent and legislative assistant to Lucas from 2004 to 2005. He also worked as a financial analyst for Interstate Hotels and Resorts from 2002 to 2003.

Creevy, who is engaged to be married in September, graduated from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2001. He is from Lakeside Park, Ky.

Stephanie Pepper, 25, has been hired as a legislative corespondent in the office. Pepper previously worked as a staff assistant in Chandler’s district office since July.

Before joining Chandler’s local staff, Pepper worked as a sales associate in John’s Run/Walk Shop and as an assistant manager in Fleet Feet Sports. She also interned for Global Gain, Voice for Humanity and for Chandler.

Pepper, who wrote in an e-mail that she is “interested in Third World development and refugee resettlement,” earned her bachelor’s degree in economics and French from Vanderbilt University in 2003. The Nicholasville, Ky., native earned a master’s degree with high honors in international development (with a diplomacy minor) from the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy in 2006.

Will Coffman, 26, joins the office as an executive assistant. He previously interned for Chandler in 2004 and worked as an executive communications clerk in the Senate from 2003 to 2004.

Coffman graduated from Washington and Lee University with a degree in American history. He is from Lexington, Ky.

Finally, Jennifer Prather, 23, is moving up in the office. Having served as a staff assistant since May, she will now work as a legislative correspondent in the office.

Prior to entering the world of politics, Prather was an intern for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership at the beginning of 2006. Before that she worked in the public relations department of an agricultural university in Costa Rica. In the spring of 2005, she worked as an assistant desktop publisher for Appalachian Heritage Magazine, and in the summer of 2004, she was a research intern at the Chemical Weapons Working Group.

From Berea, Ky., Prather received her bachelor’s degree in English and international political economy from Berea College in 2005. She is working toward a graduate certificate in international relations from Johns Hopkins University.