Media Contact: Katie Patru, kpatru@vsadc.com

WASHINGTON – Today, Van Scoyoc Associates (VSA) announced Carlisle Clarke will be joining the firm as Vice President. For the last four years Carlisle served as the Majority Clerk of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Related Agencies, which has jurisdiction over more than $140 billion in mandatory and discretionary spending.

Since January, VSA has added seven government affairs professionals, including four vice presidents with more than 50 years of Capitol Hill service and diverse policy backgrounds. “We began this year focused on expanding our service offerings to clients, with the goal of adding dimension to the policy areas in which we operate,” said Stu Van Scoyoc, President & CEO of VSA. “Carlisle has been at the center of the most consequential agriculture related policy debates in recent years and is well-versed on pressing issues with FDA. He will be a major asset to VSA as we continue to grow to meet client demands. He brings a fresh perspective, understanding the priorities of Congress and the challenges facing agriculture communities across the country.”

During his 12 years on Capitol Hill, Clarke has been immersed in the issues of agriculture, conservation, rural development, food safety, and medical product safety. He most recently worked on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of FY 2019 and the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019. He knows the major stakeholders for these issue areas and would regularly brief Senators and staff on the Administration’s budget, appropriations bills, and emerging policy. He also served on the Presidential transition team, helping to craft a policy priority framework for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the incoming Administration.

"I am excited to be joining Van Scoyoc Associates, a respected government affairs firm with a team of seasoned policy experts and strategic thinkers," said Clarke. "I have enjoyed my time on Capitol Hill immensely and value the relationships and experience I gained at the Senate Appropriations Committee. I look forward to helping clients navigate the federal process in today’s political environment."

Earlier in his career, Clarke assisted in a wide array of policy issues during his time working for Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran, including: agriculture, water, justice, fish & wildlife, rural development, forestry, nutrition, conservation, commodity trading, immigration, bioenergy, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Prior to his time with the Senator, he was a professional staffer at the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia.