With more than 26 years of legislative experience in the U.S. Congress, Brian Gaston is a Managing Director at The Glover Park Group in its Government Affairs practice. Prior to joining The Glover Park Group in 2010, Gaston spent the previous 16+ years working for the House Republican Leadership in crafting and implementing legislative and political strategy. In his most recent position, Gaston was the leadership advisor to Congressman Roy Blunt (R-MO) and managed Blunt’s role as chair of the House Republican Health Care Solutions Group. Gaston started working for Blunt when he became the House Majority Whip in 2003. He served as the Whip’s policy director until April 2004, at which time Gaston was promoted to chief of staff. From 1999-2002 Gaston served as the policy director for House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX). From 1995-99 he was deputy chief of staff and policy director for House Republican Conference Chairman John Boehner (R-OH). When working in policy positions for Blunt, Armey, and Boehner, Gaston primarily handled tax, trade, economic, financial services, labor, and budget issues. Gaston managed financial services modernization, the 2001 Bush tax cuts, and commodity exchange act reauthorization legislation – among others – for Armey. For Blunt, he managed the Central American Free Trade Agreement, the 2003 economic growth tax bill, and FSC/ETI. Gaston started working on Capitol Hill in 1984 as a legislative correspondent for Senator Chuck Percy (R-IL). He then was a legislative assistant and legislative director for Congressman Harris Fawell (R-IL), handling Fawell’s work on the Education and Labor Committee. He then served 4 ½ years as chief of staff for Congresswoman Jan Meyers (R-KS). In 1993, Gaston joined the Republican leadership staff as member services director for the House Republican Conference – then chaired by Dick Armey. While working for Armey at the Republican Conference, he managed the development of the Contract with America bills on welfare reform, balanced budget/line-item veto, and senior citizen protections. Gaston graduated cum laude from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service with a degree in international economics.