New Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) announced Tuesday that he would serve as the chairman of the defense subcommittee in addition to leading the full committee. Cochran had served as the defense subcommittee ranking member since 2008.
He also named Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) as the chairman of the Homeland Security subcommittee.
Cochran also announced staffing changes in his office. Bruce Evans, Cochran’s chief of staff, will move to the appropriations committee to serve as staff director. Keith Heard, a partner with the Washington-based TCH Group and former Cochran staffer, will take over as chief of staff in Cochran’s personal office. Adam Telle, who has worked for Cochran since 2007, will serve as deputy chief of staff and legislative director on Cochran’s personal staff.
“The new Congress will be an exciting time to serve in the Senate, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance policies that will expand economic opportunity and enhance our national security interests,” Cochran said in a statement. “I am naming a leadership team that will be able to capably advise me in carrying out my responsibilities to represent Mississippi in the Senate.”