FCC Acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn Announces New Staff

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2013 – Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn announced the addition of several new staff members.

Clyburn appointed P. Michelle Ellison as her Chief of Staff. Ellison previously the chief of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau and has frequently advised Commissioners on legal issues involved in regulating the communications industry.

Dave Grimaldi, Louis Paraertz, Rebekah Goodheart, and Sarah Whitesell have all been appointed as legal advisors. Grimaldi will serve as chief counsel and senior legal advisor. In the past, he has counseled various corporate and non-profit groups as senior counsel at the Raben Group. Paraertz will act as legal advisor for wireless, international, and public safety issues. Before taking this position, he served as special counsel in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau focusing on competition, spectrum allocation, and infrastructure policy issues.

Goodheart will serve as legal advisor for wireline issues. Prior to this, she acted as associate chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau. Whitesell has been appointed to the position of legal advisor on media issues. She was formerly the deputy bureau chief of the Media Bureau.

The new confidential assistant, which involves managing the office as well as Clyburn’s schedule and travel arrangements, will be Drema Johnson. In the past, she worked as former FCC Chairman William Kennard’s confidential assistant.

Clyburn also appointed two special assistants, Dorothy Givens-Terry and Carol Lott. Givens-Terry is an experienced researcher and reporter, while Lott has worked in administrative and office management positions for over 26 years.

Finally, Clyburn announced that DeeAnn Smith, who has extensive experience in the legal and marketing industries, will take over as staff assistant.

“This is a strong team, and I will rely on their steady counsel, depth of knowledge, and valuable experience in my role as Acting Chairwoman,” Clyburn said.