WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, announced staff promotions and senior staff positions for his committee office for the 119^th Congress.

Sen. Cruz said:  
"With jurisdiction over forty percent of the U.S. economy, the Senate Commerce Committee plays a pivotal role in shaping America’s most vital industries. I am honored to serve as the first Texan to lead the Committee as its Chairman and am confident in the dedication of its senior staff to hit the ground running. Together, we will advance meaningful solutions that create jobs, unleash American ingenuity, and ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in modernization across transportation, telecommunications, and technology sectors." 

Staff Change Announcements:  

Robert Smith has been promoted to General Counsel for the Committee. Previously he led congressional investigations for the Committee as Deputy Chief Counsel for Oversight and Investigations. He also served as Special Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary for the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett and worked as an attorney at Sidley Austin LLP. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Dartmouth College.

Bill Lucia has joined the Committee as Economist. He held senior roles at the state and federal level in both the legislative and executive branches. His previous Senate tenure includes serving as Senior Professional Staff on the Budget Committee and as Budget Advisor to the HELP Committee. A native of Virginia and most recently from the Central Coast of California, he is a graduate of University of California, Davis and University of California, Santa Barbara. 

Ryan Cannon has been promoted to Coalitions and Member Services Advisor for the Committee. He joined the Commerce Committee in 2023 as a committee aide. Previously, he worked as a scheduler, and special assistant for Senator Pat Toomey and began his career as an intern with the House Energy and Commerce Committee and for Senator Richard Burr. He is a graduate of The Catholic University of America. 

Additional Full Committee Senior Staff:  

• Brad Grantz will continue serving as Staff Director. Prior to this role, he was the Republican Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Grantz has also worked as a senior staffer for Senator Pat Toomey and held various positions in the U.S. House of Representatives. A Pittsburgh native, he is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University.
• Nicole Christus will continue serving as Deputy Staff Director. Before joining the Committee, she was a Professional Staff Member for U.S. Representative Tom Cole on the House Appropriations Committee. Over the years, Christus has held multiple roles advising U.S. Representatives and Senators on transportation and infrastructure issues. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
• Duncan Rankin will continue serving as Senior Policy Advisor. Prior to joining the Committee, he was Sen. Cruz’s legislative assistant starting in 2019. Over the years, he has served in various legislative roles in both the Senate and House. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University.
• Melissa Braid will continue serving as Communications Director. She has held senior communications roles in various U.S. House offices and worked at the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Interior. She is a graduate of the University of Kansas.

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