James Lofton

James H. Lofton is a Senior Vice President of The Rhoads Group and leads the firms Federal Appropriations Practice. Since joining the firm in 2001, Mr. Lofton has worked extensively with defense, aerospace, and high-tech firms, as well as colleges, universities, and non-profit organizations on a broad range of federal appropriations and legislative issues. Prior to joining The Rhoads Group, Mr. Lofton served as Legislative Director for Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) where he coordinated the staff's work on the Senator's legislative agenda with a special emphasis on the activities of the Senate Appropriations Committee where Senator Cochran currently serves as ranking member. During his more that 28 years on Mr. Cochran's House and Senate staffs, Mr. Lofton also served as principal advisor on a broad range of legislative and appropriations matters, including defense, transportation, energy, water resources, trade, economic development, government regulation, labor, and the budget. During his time on the Hill, James also served as Staff Director for Subcommittees of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and Senate Labor and Human Resources Committees, with jurisdiction over energy, nuclear proliferation, government information, management, regulation, labor, education and health policy. Before coming to Washington, James was a staff member for the Mississippi Republican Party and was involved in numerous campaigns at the local and state level. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University where he earned both a Masters and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and was named a Garner Fellow. James and his wife Donna have resided in Northern Virginia for over 30 years and have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.