Joshua Sutherland

• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) to coordinate informational briefs, reports, plans and other material requested by Members of Congress, their staffs, and legislative agencies
• Develop answers to questions and responses to inquiries received from Members of Congress, their staffs, and officials of legislative agencies
• Track pertinent funding amounts and appropriations language included within federal spending legislation and follow its progress through congressional appropriations committees
• Track relevant authorized and appropriated funding amounts and report language throughout the annual legislative process for the National Defense Authorization Act
• Track relevant legislation that impacts operations under areas of responsibility
• Present information to all levels of program personnel to explain positions on sensitive, high-visibility areas, direct focus on items requiring attention, and ensure full understanding of complex information
• Draft talking points on topics within the SIOP program's area of responsibility to be used by senior Navy leaders including the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations for congressional hearings
• Coordinate with Navy Office of Legislative Affairs, Navy Appropriations Matters Office and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program

• Developed answers to questions and responses to over 100 inquiries received per year from Members of Congress, their staffs, and officials of legislative agencies, including the Government Accountability Office, other interested organizations, and the media
• Supported informational briefs, reports, plans and other material requested by Members of Congress, their staffs, and legislative agencies
• Coordinated with Navy Office of Legislative Affairs, Navy Appropriations Matters Office and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program
• Attended daily executive leadership standup meetings when needed to update directorate leadership on congressional and public affairs matters
• Worked closely with technical staff and subject matter experts to ensure information presented in all forums is consistent, accurate, complete and timely
• Assisted in coordinating and supporting visits by Members of Congress and their staffs, senior U.S
• Department of Defense officials, and other government officials to the Navy's four public shipyards

Provided support for Congressional tasks for senior NAVSEA leadership, including coordinating briefings and RFI responses.

• Executed the Congressman's policy priorities and legislative strategy
• Managed policy team staff covering a wide range of issue area portfolios
• Managed responsibilities associated with the United States House of Representatives Appropriations Committee
• Managed the Congressman's Appropriations Committee responsibilities for the United States House of Representatives Commerce, Justice and Science, and Homeland Security, and State and Foreign Operations subcommittees
• Advised the Congressman on education, foreign affairs, homeland security, immigration, and judiciary issues
• Developed policy positions acting as a liaison between the Congressman, various stakeholders in West Virginia, and federal agencies
• Drafted speeches and op-eds to help the Congressman communicate with constituents and to ensure messaging stayed consistent with policy objectives
• Set up and maintained office constituent correspondence system for responding to constituents
• Liaised with federal agencies to accurately respond to the concerns of state and local officials
• Conducted legislative research for upcoming votes

• Composed and managed constituent correspondence, ensuring timely and accurate responses
• Maintained large constituent management and mail system for the Congressman's e-newsletter
• Liaised with federal agencies to accurately respond to the concerns of state and local officials