Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) announced the Committee’s senior staff for the 118th Congress.
“I’m proud to announce the Science Committee’s senior staff going into the 118th Congress,” Lucas said. “We have a great team lined up to support our Committee’s work, and each one brings years of experience to the table. Their expertise will allow us to tackle the complex policy issues ahead of us, and we’re all eager to get to work on advancing America’s scientific, technological, and economic competitiveness.”
Josh Mathis - Staff Director
Mathis will continue as Staff Director, having served in this capacity since January 2019 when Chairman Lucas became Ranking Member of the Science Committee. He previously spent six years as Deputy Staff Director at House Agriculture Committee under then-Chairman Lucas.
Jennifer Wickre - Deputy Staff Director
Wickre joined the Science Committee in 2015 as a staff member for the Research and Technology Subcommittee. Prior to joining the Committee, she worked in government affairs for a major research university. She began her career with Representative Jerry Lewis, serving as legislative staff for over a decade with a focus on appropriations. She now serves as the Deputy Staff Director where her role includes the management of all policy and oversight work at the Committee.
Jennie Wright - Chief Counsel
Wright joined the Committee in January 2023 as Chief Counsel after working for Senator James M. Inhofe for ten years, most recently as Deputy General Counsel at the Senate Armed Services Committee. Previously, she served as counsel in both Senator Inhofe’s personal office and at the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Heather Vaughan - Senior Advisor for Strategy and Director of Communications
Vaughan joined the Science Committee as the Communications Director in 2018. On the Hill, Vaughan has worked for the House Agriculture Committee and in the office of Rep. Randy Neugebauer. Her work off the Hill has focused on agricultural and financial policy communications. She began her career in communications as the speechwriter for USDA Secretary Mike Johanns.
Wendi Price - Director of Operations
Price joined the Committee in January 2023 as the Director of Operations, where she oversees all operational, logistical, and administrative work. Prior to that, she served as the Executive Assistant for Senator Jim Inhofe for 20 years. She began her career with Rep. Wes Watkins.
Tom Hammond - Senior Advisor to the Chairman
Hammond serves as a Senior Policy Advisor to the Chairman. He previously served as the Staff Director for the Space Subcommittee, Staff Director for the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee, and as a professional staff member on the Space and Aeronautics, Investigations and Oversight, and Energy Subcommittees.
Hillary O’Brien - Energy Subcommittee Staff Director
O’Brien has been with the Science Committee since 2017 and now serves as Energy Subcommittee Staff Director. Her policy work has included the advancement of diverse clean energy technologies, fundamental science research, next-generation carbon management strategies, and U.S. research infrastructure. She has a Master of Science in Geological Sciences and began her career in the commercial construction industry.
Daniel Dziadon - Environment Subcommittee Staff Director
Dziadon has worked on the Science Committee since 2017 and is now the Environment Subcommittee Staff Director. Prior to that, he interned with Senator Richard Shelby. Dziadon’s policy work has focused on energy, environment, and crossover issues, including research, development, and demonstration of clean energy technologies at the Department of Energy, next-generation weather research and forecasting at NOAA, and science-based decision-making at EPA. Dziadon holds a degree in Metallurgical & Materials Engineering with a minor in Mathematics.
Catherine Johnson - Research and Technology Subcommittee Staff Director
Johnson joined the Science Committee in 2017 as a Professional Staff Member and is now the Research & Technology Subcommittee Staff Director. Her work has focused on the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, STEM education, research security, and the CHIPS program at the Department of Commerce. Prior to joining the Committee, Johnson served as the Assistant Director of Federal Relations for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She began her career in the office of Rep. Tom Petri.
Brent Blevins - Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Staff Director
Blevins joined the Science Committee in March 2019 as a senior policy advisor on NOAA and NASA issues and now serves as Subcommittee Staff Director for Space and Aeronautics. He has worked on Capitol Hill for more than 15 years, serving as staff director of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry; as senior professional staff for the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands; and as a Legislative Assistant for Senators John Cornyn and Luther Strange.
Daniel Boatright - Oversight Subcommittee Staff Director
Boatright joined the Committee in January 2023 as the Oversight Subcommittee Staff Director and Counsel. Prior to that, he worked for multiple Senate Committees where he led oversight investigations, legislation, and nominations efforts. Before attending law school, he worked as a military contractor where he fixed helicopters in Afghanistan; a skill he learned from his experiences in the US Marine Corps.