LegiStorm

Sen. Bill Nelson's (D-Fla.) new military staffer hails from a distinguished military and political family.

Bale Dalton joined the Floridian's staff in June as a defense special assistant. His father, Roy Bale "Skip" Dalton. Jr., is the federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Orlando, a nomination which Nelson shepherded through the Senate. Prior to his judgeship, Skip Dalton was a counsel for Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) in 2005-2006.

His uncle is the former Secretary of the Navy, John Dalton. He served during the Clinton Administration after serving chairing the Federal Home Loan Bank Board under President Jimmy Carter. His grandfather, Roy Bale Dalton, was a decorated Navy pilot who served during the Second World War.

The youngest Dalton is a distinguished service member as well. After graduating with merit from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2002, he performed search and rescue missions during Hurricane Katrina. In addition, he was deployed to Iraq four times and Afghanistan once during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Dalton graduated from the U.S. Naval War College in 2010 and earned his MPP in international and global affairs from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government this year. He has been a helicopter pilot in the Navy Reserves since 2012.

The Alcalde family dynasty of politics and influence has reached its third generation.

Kristin Alcalde, granddaughter of Alcalde and Fay founder Hector Alcalde, has joined Chairman Bill Shuster's (R-Pa.) staff on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as a staff assistant. Earlier this year she served as a paid executive assistant and scheduler to Shuster's campaign.

Founded in 1973, Alcalde and Fay has proven to be one of the most influential lobbying firms inside the Beltway. Alcalde and Fay ranks 14th in total lobbying revenue since 1998, raking in more than $138 million in that span, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

All three of Hector Alcalde's children worked for his lobbying firm at some point during their careers.

Currently a lobbyist for Potomac Partners, Rick Alcalde previously worked for Ogilvy Government Relations and Alcalde and Fay. Rick came under scrutiny in 2008 for helping secure a $10 million earmark made by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) which benefitted his client Daniel Aronoff, a Florida developer. Young reportedly had a personal relationship with the Alcaldes. 

Kristin's father Nelson Alcalde founded his own government consulting firm in 2001, but lobbied for Alcalde and Fay as recently as 2007. Nelson also spent seven years working in the Clinton administration and White House, and previously worked for then-Rep. Bill Alexander (D-Ark.).

Cynthia Colenda, Hector's daugher, has worked for Alcalde and Fay for more than three decades, having joined the firm in 1983.

A former health care lobbyist with Chamber Hill Strategies has joined the Senate Judiciary Committee staff.

Rebecca Cooper, most recently a government affairs associate at Chamber Hill, has joined the committee as hearing clerk. While at Chamber Hill, Cooper specialized in health care policy and lobbied on behalf of the American Academy of Family Physicians, as well as various health care companies.

Chamber Hill bills itself as a boutique consulting firm specializing in federal and regulatory advocacy.

Before joining Chamber Hill in 2012, Cooper held internships with the Columbia University medical school and Virginia State Sen. Toddy Puller (D). Cooper earned her BS in public health and health policy from the University of Richmond, where she completed her senior thesis on the Affordable Care Act.

A former House policy staffer for Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) has left the Hill in favor of a position with top-tier lobbying firm Holland and Knight.

Justin Maturo joined Bernice Johnson's staff in early 2011 and was promoted to legislative assistant later that year. His new title with Holland and Knight is also legislative assistant.

Holland and Knight has consistently ranked among the top 10 lobbying firms in Washington for more than a decade. 

Maturo advised Bernice Johnson on issues including government reform, ethics and the judiciary. He studied political science and public policy at American University.

It may not take a brain surgeon to run a congressional office, but sometimes it takes a House chief of staff to run a brain surgeon's office.

Carl Vogelpohl, most recently Rep. Tim Griffin's (R-Ark.) chief of staff, was named CEO of Legacy Neurosurgery this month. The Little Rock, Arkansas practice specializes in brain and spinal surgery.

Vogelpohl spent just a few months in the top job on Griffin's staff before being lured back to Little Rock. He served as Griffin's district director and deputy chief of staff there starting in 2011.

Before joining Griffin's staff, Vogelpohl spent seven years as a political strategist and consultant.