Chairman Wicker Announces New Senate Armed Services Committee Staff Director

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that his long-time staff director, John Keast, will leave government service to retire from the Senate and re-join the private sector.

Keast originally joined Wicker's team starting with his 1994 campaign in Mississippi. In 2006, after eleven years as Wicker's chief of staff in the House, Keast joined Cornerstone Government Affairs in Washington, D.C, where he worked until he re-joined public service for Senator Wicker. Keast left Cornerstone to lead Wicker's Commerce Committee staff in 2018.

"Properly describing John Keast's contribution to American security and prosperity would require reams of paper. His depth of knowledge and experience in national security and government affairs is unmatched. Suffice it to say that John has been my closest advisor and a key leader of my team for three decades now," said Senator Wicker. "I cannot thank John enough for leaving the private sector in 2018 to lead my committee staff at the Commerce Committee for four years and three more here at the Armed Services Committee. I look forward to seeing him in Mississippi more often."

Chairman Wicker announced Rick Berger, currently Policy and Budget Director, will serve as the Committee's new Staff Director, effective immediately. Berger joined the committee as Budget Director in 2019 under then-Chairman Jim Inhofe. He is a native of New Jersey and a graduate of Boston University and George Washington University.

"Rick Berger has been a part of my leadership team for three years and worked closely with me to effectuate my strategic priorities, starting with my successful work to build a larger defense budget that is laser focused on giving our troops what they need," said Senator Wicker. "Rick is widely considered one of America's most talented defense policy experts. He is especially skilled in shepherding complex initiatives and building coalitions. I am fully confident he will lead the impressive staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee to further success as we continue advancing a 'peace through strength' agenda."