BUILD YOUR CAREER

 FP on the Hill

April 23, 2021 | Online
Chidi Blyden, House Armed Services Committee
Maggie McNamara Cooper, Senate Armed Services Committee
Katherine Earle, House Foreign Affairs Committee
Meghan Gallagher, House Foreign Affairs Committee
Katarina O'Regan, Congressional Research Service

The WFPG and WIIS hosted a conversation to delve into the critical role that Congress plays in US foreign policy and the entry-level and mid-career professional opportunities available. Committee staffers Chidi Blyden, Maggie McNamara Cooper, Katherine Earle, and Meghan Gallagher, joined Congressional Research Service foreign policy analyst Katarina O'Regan and moderator Kim Kahnhauser Freeman to share insights from their roles and career paths, their day-to-day responsibilities, and their advice for those interested in pursuing a career in foreign policy on the Hill. The participants then joined speakers in breakout rooms for more informal discussions. This program was a part of our Professional Development Series co-hosted by Women In International Security. Members can watch a recording here or on our Member Career Resources Platform.


What We Learned

What role does Congress play in the creation of US foreign policy?

  • Congress determines budgetary allocation and oversees many issues in US foreign policy. It brings attention to select issues through hearings and public statements.
  • Hill staffers interacting with US foreign policy often travel to learn about problems on the ground and engage with foreign embassies to work on issues of mutual interest.
  • Elections change focal points and shift the interests of members as constituent interests change.

What is the day-to-day routine of a Congressional staff member?

  1. Current events and news cycles influence which topics are most important.
  2. Staffers work on bills, communications, social media, and collaboration with adjacent entities like the Congressional Research Service and legislative counsel.
  3. Out-of-session, staffers take time to meet with professionals to network and expand knowledge of issues in foreign policy.
  4. Whether your position is in the majority or the minority will affect staff members’ portfolios—there are fewer staffers in the minority, who each cover a broader range of issues.

What avenues are there to working in foreign policy on the Hill, and how do they differ?

  • Staffers can work in a personal office or a committee. In a personal office, staffers connect with constituents and work on issues with a more local or state-specific focus. On a committee, staffers work on broader policies for the whole of government.
  • Staffers can work in the House of Representatives or the Senate; the pace in the House is often faster than in the Senate due to the electoral cycle and rules of each chamber.
  • Another avenue into foreign policy is through Hill-adjacent roles with agencies like the Congressional Research Service, which is nonpartisan and provides information on policy issues to all members of Congress, or through an advocacy or lobbying firm.

What should people work towards if they want to work on the Hill?

  • Develop strong writing skills!
  • Seek out opportunities for fellowships; many will place people who specialize in particular subject areas and will help you get your foot in the door.
  • Understand the lay of the land: key legislation, resources are available for policy knowledge, and so on.
  • Consider other roles that engage with policy to get experience in the field, such as with think tanks.
  • Check the House and Senate Bulletins frequently for job listings.
  • Don’t lock yourself into one specific field or subject area and welcome all opportunities. You may need to begin in an entry-level job focused on another policy or issue.
  • Many people are referred for their positions, so NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK! Use your alumni association or other networking group to help you reach out to current staffers for brief informational interviewsand keep those networks warm!

Thank you to our speakers!

Chidi BlydenChidi Blyden is a Professional Staff Member for the House Armed Services Committee Policy Team, advising on Africa and South America’s defense equities. Previously, she led the Africa Program at the Center for Civilians in Conflict, served in the Obama Administration as the Special Assistant and Regional Director to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense for African Affairs in the Office of Secretary for Defense for Policy, and worked at the National Defense University. Ms. Blyden is also an adjunct at Georgetown, a co-lead of the Africa Expert Group for the Truman National Security Project, and serves on the Leadership Council for Memunatu Magazine, a magazine for young African girls. She holds a BS from Texas A&M and a MS from George Mason.

Maggie McNamara CooperMaggie McNamara Cooper is a Professional Staff Member for the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) where her portfolio includes budget and policy issues related to US European Command, NATO, and Russia, US Africa Command, counterterrorism, information operations, and overseas humanitarian, disaster, and civic aid. Prior to joining the SASC staff in August 2010, Ms. McNamara Cooper worked in the personal office of Senator Carl Levin. She received a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in national security studies from the Naval War College.

Katherine EarleKatherine Earle is a Professional Staff Member on the Republican staff of the House Foreign Affairs Committee where she focuses on Europe, Russia and NATO. She is currently working on the implementation of the Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act and the Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act, as amended to prevent the competition of the Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. Previously, she was a Nuclear Security Fellow in the office of Senator John Hoeven (R-ND). Before working on the Hill, Katherine served at AEI as Senior Program Manager in the Foreign and Defense Policy Studies Department and as a research associate for the Director of Russian Studies. She holds a MA in Security Studies from Georgetown and a BA from Middlebury.

Meghan GallagherMeghan Gallagher is a Professional Staff Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee for Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX) handling foreign assistance, sub-Saharan Africa policy, global women’s issues, UN peacekeeping, and conservation/wildlife trafficking and previously handled sub-Saharan Africa and conservation for Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA). Prior to this position, she worked for Senator Jeff Flake, assisting with foreign policy, defense, and international trade issues. Meghan also spent time in South Africa on a USAID Research and Innovations fellowship and in Uganda working with the Pulte Institute for Global Development. Originally from California, she graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in Political Science and International Development Studies.

Katarina O'ReganKatarina O'Regan is an Analyst in Foreign Policy and Presidential Management Fellow at the Congressional Research Service, which provides policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. At CRS, Katarina provides authoritative, confidential, objective and nonpartisan analysis to Congress on topics relating to transnational crime, corruption, and trafficking. Prior to CRS, she worked on international development and human security issues in Tunisia, Bangladesh, Liberia, and Uganda, and in DC at the British Embassy and NDI. She has a MS in Foreign Service from Georgetown, where she served as Teaching and Research Assistant to former Secretary Madeleine Albright, and a BA from Fordham. In 2019, she co-chaired the WFPG’s Young Professional Network.

Kim Kahnhauser FreemanKim Kahnhauser Freeman (Moderator) is the executive director of the Women's Foreign Policy Group, a non-profit organization which promotes women’s leadership and amplifies their voices in international affairs. Since joining the WFPG team in 2006, she has held roles of increasing responsibility supporting the organization’s global issues programs, membership outreach, mentoring initiatives, and strategic development. Previously, Kim was a Fulbright teaching fellow in Tirol, Austria, and researched public housing for the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service in DC. Kim was a 2011 State Department Young Turkey/Young America Fellow, and holds a BS in International Politics from Georgetown and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy.