Schrage served on the headquarters policy teams of leading presidential candidates during two open Republican presidential elections and has experience in both primary and general election contests. He served as the 2008 Foreign Policy and Trade Director for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney where he did policy development and speechwriting on issues ranging from international economic crises and trade issues to counterterrorism, Iran and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that were at the center of the 2008 debate. Earlier, he served on the 2000 Republican presidential campaign headquarters policy team in Austin Texas and was part of the team sent to Palm Beach County during the Florida presidential recount. Schrage has also taught Economics and National Security at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service. His wide-ranging experience in Congressional roles also includes key positions for Senate Leadership, Armed Services and Homeland Security Committee Members and serving as international trade counsel for the Ways & Means Committee (the committee which initiates U.S. tax and trade laws) and as counsel for a Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee responsible for U.S. policies on global terrorism and on Latin America. Schrage conducted MBA and doctoral studies at Harvard Business School, earning distinction (honors) on his general doctoral qualifying exam, before returning to public service in 2000. He is an honors graduate of both Duke University and the University of Michigan Law School.