Ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, the powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee unveiled its two latest staff members. One returns to Capitol Hill after a 13-year career in the private sector. The other individual jumps from the FCC, where this person has served as Chief of Staff and Senior Legal Advisor to Commissioner Michael O’Rielly since December 2014.
Robin Colwell leaves O’Rielly’s office for a new role as Chief Counsel for the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, starting in July.
Before joining the FCC in the final month of 2014, Colwell served as a Legislative Counsel for Sen. Tim Scott (R-S. Carolina) and as a Counsel at the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation’s Subcommittee on Tourism, Competitiveness, and Innovation.
She has served in the past as Counsel to former Senators Jim DeMint and Peter G. Fitzgerald, as well as former Rep. Connie Mack. Before her time on the Hill, Colwell was an associate at Wiley Rein & Fielding, focused on telecommunications and technology transactions.
A Florida native, Colwell first came to Washington, DC as a law clerk to Chief Judge H. Robert Mayer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Als
o joining the House E&C Communications & Technology Subcommitee is Timothy J. Kurth, who will serve as a Senior Professional staffer.
From 1995-2004, Kurth — not to be confused with Follett Higher Education Group VP/GM Timothy J. Kurth, a veteran marketing and business development pro —served in such roles as Senior Advisor on Technology and Telecommunications for the then-Speaker of the House Rep. Dennis Hastert (R–Ill.).
Kurth’s post-Hill experience includes management of the telecommunications, technology and financial services practice of the lobbying firm of Lundquist, Nethercutt & Griles LLC (now BlueWater Strategies).
Most recently, Kurth has been a principal with Heartland Strategies.
“We’re excited to have Robin and Tim join our already stellar team at the Communications and Technology Subcommittee,” House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn said in a joint announcement released Friday morning (5/26). “Their breadth of knowledge on communications policy will play an integral role as the committee works towards boosting broadband deployment, Next Generation 911 reauthorization, spectrum allocation and availability, and FCC oversight. We’re looking forward to them joining our team and getting to work on these important issues.”
Commissioner O’Rielly added, “I will truly miss Robin because her professionalism and mastery of communications policy is only exceeded by her sound judgment, political acumen and ability to work well with everyone she meets. While she maintains sound conservative principles, she is able and willing to reach a deal when appropriate. There is no doubt in my mind that Robin will do very well in the new role.”
Current Chief Counsel David Redl was nominated for the position of Administrator at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and will remain on staff until confirmed.
Deputy Chief Counsel Grace Koh departed the committee earlier this year to serve as Special Assistant to the President for Technology, Telecom, and Cyber-Security Policy.
Kelsey Guyselman, Gene Fullano, Lauren McCarty and Giulia Giannangeli will continue to serve the Communications and Technology Subcommittee in their current roles.
