Jesse D. Appleton served as the Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Financial Markets at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In that capacity he provided counsel on key policy matters including: the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, chaired by Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr., financial markets policy, international investment, capital markets competitiveness, alternative energy financing and government loan guarantees, the Private Sector Hedge Fund Managers’ and Investors’ Practices Committees, regulatory policy, securitization, credit rating agencies, mortgage finance and origination, government financing and lending, and cash and debt management modernization. While serving at Treasury, Mr. Appleton’s portfolio also included a variety of policy matters including CFTC reauthorization, FAA reauthorization, public-private infrastructure financing, energy markets regulation, housing policy, tax relief, fiscal stimulus, and retirement security legislation. In recognition of his work in advancing Secretary Paulson’s policy initiatives, he received the Department of the Treasury’s Exceptional Service Award. Prior to joining the Treasury Department, Mr. Appleton served as a Legislative Assistant to Senator James M. Talent. In that role, he advised Senator Talent on taxes, international trade, appropriations, retirement security, health care, Medicare, Medicaid, labor, Internet, telecommunications and technology issues. He also assisted Senator Talent with his duties as a member of the President’s Export Council, the U.S. Senate Cuba Working Group, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging and the U.S. Senate Republican Task Force on Health Care Costs and the Uninsured. Previously, Mr. Appleton served as Policy Director for Senator Talent’s 2006 reelection campaign and as Deputy Policy Director for Senator Talent’s 2002 campaign. A fourth generation Missourian, Mr. Appleton was born and raised in University City, Missouri. He is a graduate of Stanford University with degrees in history and political science. While attending Stanford, Mr. Appleton conducted research on U.S.-Middle Eastern relations under the direction of former U.S. Ambassador Thomas W. Simons, Jr.