Lobbying world

James Thomas Jr., former deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Senate affairs at the Pentagon during the Trump administration, joined scientific research company Leidos as director of government affairs. He previously worked as assistant vice president at the National Defense Industrial Association and before that was legislative director to ex-Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.).

Jacob Stewart will be director of state government relations for the Early Care and Education Consortium, part of the law and lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP. Stewart previously was manager of policy and governmental affairs at the advocacy group Child Care Aware of America.

Katherine Knight Patterson left her post as vice president of communications at the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU) to join Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s public affairs team. Before AALU, she was senior manager of media and external communications at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for more than a year and press secretary to Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) for nearly three years.

Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions hired Chris Mathey to be vice president of government relations. He previously was head of market and policy innovation and utility engagement at the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance and before that was head of energy solutions at WGL Energy.

Wade Newton was named vice president of communications at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. He previously was senior director of communications for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which merged recently with the trade group Global Automakers. Before that, Newton was director of communications for the Associated Builders and Contractors and communications director for Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.).