David P. Cleary

David is one of Washington’s most widely respected policy and political strategists, having spent 25 years in key positions within the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Department of Education. During his 18 years in the Senate David served as principal advisor and Chief of Staff to former Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN). He was the longest serving Republican Staff Director on the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, holding this position for nearly a decade under Senators Lamar Alexander and Richard Burr (R-NC).

David’s skillset spans education, health, labor and pensions, appropriations, and complex politics and processes in Washington. He played vital roles in helping pass recent laws updating the No Child Left Behind Act; addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, fighting the opioid crisis and spurring medical innovation via the 21st Century CURES Act.

David was integral to developing health care law and policies during his tenure working with the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, including the PREVENT Pandemics Act in 2022, which strengthened preparedness and response capabilities following the COVID-19 pandemic. David led legislative and oversight efforts such as the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) in 2018, which provided the foundation for the COVID-19 response. He was also a leading voice in the major bipartisan COVID relief bills passed by Congress in 2020 to address the global pandemic.

Prior to joining the Senate, David worked on the House Education and Workforce Committee on disability policy and was the lead drafter of the Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004. David started his career at the U.S. Department of Education working on elementary and secondary education and special education issues. He and his wife, Marci, have a daughter.