PHOTO: Earlier today, U.S. Senator-elect Doug Jones (D - Birmingham) announced the hiring of Alabama native Dana Gresham as his Chief of Staff.
By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Today, U.S. Senator-elect Doug Jones announced the hiring of former Asst. Secretary for Governmental Affairs of the United States Department of Transportation Dana Gresham as his Chief of Staff.
Gresham was appointed to USDOT by President Obama's administration in 2009, and worked there until January 2017; until President Donald Trump was sworn into the oval office.
Senator Doug Jones announced Gresham's hiring this morning:
I would like to welcome Alabama native & former Asst. Secretary for Governmental Affairs at @USDOT Dana Gresham, who will be joining our team as Chief of Staff. pic.twitter.com/Fo8lNQGupP
— Doug Jones (@DougJones) January 2, 2018
Gresham is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and a graduate of Georgetown University with a bachelor's degree in International Politics.
Gresham is also a veteran staffer; having served as Chief of Staff for Representative Artur Davis (D - Birmingham) and on the staffs of Rep. Bud Cramer (D - Huntsville) as well as Rep. Eva Clayton (D - North Carolina).
Senator-elect Jones also hired Sonceria Ann Bishop-Berry, an African-American woman to serve as his transitional advisor. Bishop-Berry is another veteran staffer with an impressive resume.
The hires come after the NAACP issued a letter demanding that hiring practices for the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate be reviewed, as no Democratic lawmakers have a person of color working in their top staff position.
This differs from the GOP, despite what many may assume. According to the Washington Post, Jonathan Burks, Chief of Staff to Republican Rep. Paul D. Ryan (Wisconsin), is the first African-American to hold the job.
In the senate, two Republicans have chiefs of staff who are African-American, U.S Senators Jerry Moran (Kansas) and Tim Scott (South Carolina).
As far as where U.S. Senator Doug Jones will stand on the issues, Mr. Jones said in an interview that he wants to, "reach some consensus to try to get things done."
“I’m starting fresh,” Mr. Jones said in the interview with the Wall Street Journal. “I want to do that not only across the aisle but within my own party. We’ve still got divergent views even within the party."
"I want to be that voice to try to bring people together,” said Jones.
Jones is set to be sworn into office tomorrow.
