New Leaders Emerge in Washington’s Influential Public Policy Circles

Elizabeth Wilkins has been named a senior fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project. She joins the organization from the Federal Trade Commission, where she served as chief of staff to the chair and director of the Office of Policy Planning. Wilkins also has experience as a senior adviser to the chief of staff in the Biden White House.

Jessica Monahan has taken on the role of senior principal at Cozen O’Connor. Monahan previously worked at Arnold & Porter and has experience at McGuireWoods Consulting, the National Association of Counties, and Squire Patton Boggs.

Ryan McDermott has been appointed vice president of national security policy at the Aerospace Industries Association. He joins the organization from the Air Force’s cost and economics office.

Vincent Barnes is now the senior vice president of government affairs at the AnnDyl Policy Group. Barnes previously held the position of senior vice president of policy and research at the Alliance to Save Energy.

Jennifer Rust has joined Rich Feuer Anderson as a principal. Rust’s background includes roles as senior vice president and counsel at Porterfield, Fettig & Sears, as well as work with the House Financial Services Committee and its current ranking member, Maxine Waters (D-Calif).

The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) has consolidated its government relations and public affairs practices into one department and appointed Jill Kozeny as executive vice president and chief advocacy officer. Kozeny previously served as chief of staff to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and worked for a decade with the Senate Finance Committee. Additionally, ACLI has promoted Howard Bard to senior vice president and deputy general counsel, Scott Dixon to senior vice president and chief financial officer, Carrie Haughawout to senior vice president of life insurance and regulatory policy, and Maria Palacios to senior vice president and chief human resources officer