By: Politico

Retired Marine Commander Joins Van Scoyoc

Bosnia, Kuwait, Iraq … K Street?

For retired Marine Col. Michael Shupp, the trials and tribulations of office life will likely be a welcome break from the world’s hot spots, now that he’s joined Van Scoyoc Associates.

A 27-year veteran, Shupp retired from the Marines earlier this year. In Iraq, he had commanded the main effort during Operation Al Fajr (known as the Battle of Fallujah) and the reconstruction efforts that followed. 

The decorated Marine has plenty of Capitol Hill experience, too. He was the Marine Corps’ director of legislative affairs for the House and later was the principal adviser on legislative affairs to Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“Mike’s long and spectacular career in the Marines encompassed everything from combat to weapons procurement to congressional relations,” said H. Stewart Van Scoyoc, the company’s president. “He brings tremendous capability to our firm.”

J.A. Green & Co. Adds Director of Operations

J.A. Green & Co., the 2-year-old lobbying firm established by former congressional and Pentagon staffer Jeff Green, has added Jennifer Fay as director of operations.

Most recently, Fay had been scheduler and office manager to Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Fla.) and, earlier, scheduler for Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.). She told Suite Talk she wasn’t looking to leave Capitol Hill but had known Green for years and was excited for a job with more responsibilities. She’ll be in charge of handling the business end of matters involving J.A. Green’s 16 clients, many of whom are defense industries. A native of Louisville, Ky., Fay moved to Washington in 2003.

Allison & Partners Hires General Manager For D.C.

Dan Drummond recently joined the fast-growing independent strategic communication firm Allison & Partners as general manager of its Washington office, one of six across the country.

Drummond will lead the six-member group in Washington and work on implementing the firm’s strategic communication services.

Before joining Allison, Drummond was senior vice president at Powell Tate, where he was spokesman for the financial services industry. Earlier, he had been communications director for Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and campaign coordinator for Moran’s 2002 reelection bid.

Drummond was also a reporter for The Washington Times and several regional papers in Virginia, where he covered what he knows best: Virginia politics. Born and raised in Virginia (ask him about his family roots going back to Jamestown), he’s also a member of the Fairfax City Council.

Citi Beefs Up Government Affairs Section

The global financial services giant Citi is devoting more attention to its government affairs with some help from a former Capitol Hill staffer.

Jimmy Ryan, who was chief counsel and floor director to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), has been promoted to senior vice president of federal government affairs, effective immediately. He’ll co-direct Citi’s federal government affairs office with Heather Wingate, another senior vice president.

“Jimmy is highly respected and recognized both within our company and Washington as a best-in-class policy strategist,” Wingate said.

For the past 5½ years, Ryan has been vice president of federal government affairs for Citi, most recently dealing with the tumultuous economy.

“We are going to see a total rewrite of the financial services sectors with the coming of a new administration, so we have been in the midst of preparations,” Ryan told Suite Talk.

Promotion at Buchanan

Jon Plebani has been promoted to co-chairman of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney’s federal government relations practice. The other co-chairman will be CEO-elect John Barbour, who takes over the top spot in July.

Plebani moves from working directly with the department’s 32 clients to handling day-to-day management of the practice.

“It’s a great culture to work in,” he told Suite Talk. “We’re large enough to take care of what our clients need and small enough to be friends.”

Suite Talk is a regular Politico feature that follows career changes, client developments and other movements in the public affairs sector. Please send news items and photos to suitetalk@politico.com.

Copyright © 2008 Capitol News Company, LLC | Distributed by Noofangle Media