McConnell Announces Updates to Senior Staff for 119th Congress

Washington, D.C.
–
U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today announced updates to his senior staff:
“As I continue to represent the people of Kentucky, my work over the next two years will focus especially on protecting the institution of the Senate and rebuilding American hard power. I am proud that several trusted, longtime advisors will join me in these efforts.”
Tiffany Ge will serve as Majority Staff Director of the Senate Rules Committee.
Ge has served in Senator McConnell’s office since 2017 as Counsel, Legislative Director, and most recently, Deputy Chief of Staff, and will continue to perform these roles. She worked previously in private practice. Ge is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and the George Washington University Law School.
Robert Story Karem will serve as Majority Clerk of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
Karem served in the Senate Republican Leader’s office as National Security Advisor from 2018-2024. Previously, after serving as a legislative assistant to Senator McConnell, he advised Vice President Dick Cheney, House Majority Leaders Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Jeb Bush on national security matters, and was confirmed by the Senate to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in 2017. A native Kentuckian, Karem is a graduate of Columbia University.
Melissa Bennett will serve as Archivist and Director of Operations.
Bennett has served Senator McConnell’s office and the Office of the Republican Leader as Archivist since 2023. She previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and as Assistant to President George W. Bush. Bennett is a graduate of Marietta College.
David Popp will serve as Senior Advisor, focusing on communications.
Popp most recently served as Communications Director in the Senate Republican Leader’s office for McConnell from 2016-2024. He previously served as Communications Director for the House Financial Services Committee and the House Republican Conference. Popp is a graduate of Ohio University.
Dylan Vorbach will serve as Senior Advisor, supporting work on defense and foreign policy.
Vorbach served in the Senate Republican Leader’s office from 2018-2024, most recently as Chief Speechwriter. He served previously in a variety of roles for Senator Luther Strange (R-AL) and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Vorbach is a graduate of the College of William & Mary and the Naval War College.
Senior leadership of McConnell’s personal office will remain:
Chief of Staff Terry Carmack, Communications Director Robert Steurer, Press Secretary Stephanie Penn, Speechwriter Sophia Slacik, and Legislative Assistants Andrew Fisher, Dominic Travis, Richard St. Onge, and Will Clark.