W Timothy Locke

Tim Locke is a Tennessean who migrated to Washington, D.C. in 1977, a move that sparked a career that now accounts for twenty years of public policy experience. Mr. Locke has served in several positions within the Executive Branch as well as the U.S. Senate. In 1989, he transferred to the private sector to work as a Vice President at Hecht, Spencer & Associates, another District of Columbia lobbying firm, and joined Jim Smith and Jim Free at The Smith-Free Group in 1996. Before moving to the private sector, Mr. Locke worked at the Department of the Interior as Director of the Office of External Affairs at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). BLM is the Federal government’s largest land management agency responsible for mineral leasing as well as conservation stewardship. From 1986 until 1989, Mr. Locke oversaw the legislative liaison unit, the legislative counsel’s office, and the press relations activities. Mr. Locke also served in several positions within the U.S. Senate and the Reagan Administration. From 1977 until August 1982, Mr. Locke was the Personal Assistant to U.S. Senator Howard Baker (R-TN) assigned to Baker’s U.S. Capitol Leadership office and later served with the U.S. Senate Sergeant-at-Arms. In June 1983, he was appointed Special Assistant in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, a post he held until 1985. In other Executive Branch appointments, Mr. Locke served on the Governmental Affairs staff at the Department of Transportation during the tenure of Secretary Drew Lewis. He also served at the Environmental Protection Agency where he assisted in William D. Ruckelshaus’ 1983 return to EPA. Finally, he was a consultant to the U.S. DOT’s Administrator of the Urban Mass Transit Administration (UMTA) from 1985 until 1986. Mr. Locke’s diversified lobbying experience has encompassed tax, telecommunications, energy, health care and Native American issues. He maintains close working relationships with many of the Republican Members of the House and Senate majority, and has been an active supporter of his home state Tennessee delegation. He sits on a select number of political steering committees that help guide lawmakers campaigns. Mr. Locke holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mississippi, Ole Miss. He grew up in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee and now resides in Alexandria, Virginia.