Former education advisor to Senator Dick Durbin and senior Department of Education staffer brings deep expertise in higher education policy, appropriations, and federal regulatory strategy to McAllister & Quinn.
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – McAllister & Quinn is pleased to announce that Brad Middleton has joined the firm as Managing Director of Federal Affairs & Government Relations. In this role, Middleton will support clients navigating federal policy, appropriations, and regulatory matters, with a particular focus on higher education and institutional advocacy.
Middleton brings nearly two decades of experience across Capitol Hill and the U.S. Department of Education, where he advised senior policymakers on higher education legislation, oversight, and federal funding priorities. Prior to joining McAllister & Quinn, he held senior advisory positions within the U.S. Department of Education, including in the Office of the Under Secretary and Federal Student Aid’s Office of Enforcement, where he worked on school accountability, regulatory compliance, and institutional oversight.
Brad also served 15 years in the Office of United States Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) where he held a variety of positions in both DC and Illinois. Brad managed the Senator’s Rock Island Office and served nearly 10 years as Education Policy Director. In that role, Brad led a team of four with responsibility for developing and advancing the Senator’s education policy agenda and appropriations priorities. He played key roles in bipartisan legislative negotiations, debates around institutional accountability, and efforts to expand federal support for higher education institutions including the creation of a grant program, which has received $61 million in appropriations to date, to promote the use of open postsecondary educational resources.
“Brad’s extensive experience across both the legislative and executive branches gives him a unique understanding of the policy and regulatory challenges facing higher education institutions today,” said John McAllister, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of McAllister & Quinn. “His addition further strengthens our federal affairs capabilities and reinforces our commitment to serving colleges and universities at the highest level.”
In addition to his federal service, Middleton serves on the board of the Illinois State Society. A native of Illinois, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from Knox College, where he graduated magna cum laude.
About McAllister & Quinn: McAllister & Quinn is a leading Federal grants consulting and government relations firm dedicated to helping organizations secure funding for impactful projects and initiatives. Based in Washington, DC, McAllister & Quinn’s unique approach has helped clients secure over $17 billion in federal grants and an additional $1 billion in congressional funding through our government relations efforts. To learn more about McAllister & Quinn visit www.jm-aq.com.
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