MR JIM PAPA

Special Assistant to President Obama (2009-2013)

Managing Director, Strategy and Operations, GSG
Fmr. Senior advisor to Democratic Caucus Chairman, Rahm Emanuel
Fmr. Chief of Staff to Rep. Rush Holt

Jim Papa is a veteran of the Obama White House, Democratic Leadership in the House and Senate and battleground Congressional districts…and has the scars to prove it. He has extensive experience developing multi-faceted strategies to address legislative, regulatory and public relations issues.

He runs Global Strategy Group’s Washington, D.C. Office, guiding operations and strategy for its public affairs, communications, and competitive research practices. He works with a range of corporate and non-profit clients to address legislative, regulatory and public relations issues.

Prior to joining GSG, Papa was Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs in the Obama White House. There, he handled a range of issues that included energy, health care, technology, transportation, the environment, and economic development. He played a role in the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Affordable Care Act, Dodd-Frank financial regulatory reform, middle class tax cuts, the repeal of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell, several Free Trade Agreements, and the reauthorization of the FAA.

Prior to serving in the White House, Papa earned a reputation as a top-flight communications and political strategist on Capitol Hill. He served as a senior advisor to Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff to Rep. Rush Holt, and other senators. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said about him, “Papa is someone you want in the trenches with you.”

Papa has guest lectured at Georgetown University, George Washington University, and American University. He has a J.D. from Georgetown Law School and an undergraduate degree from Cornell University.

Papa lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife, Katie, and their two children.