HOOPLA Todd Willens ’89 Congressional Chief of Staff
Todd Willens is the chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce of New Mexico, a Republican who represents southern New Mexico. Todd works in Pearce’s Washington office and lives in D.C. with his wife Morna and their children Maxwell, Chase, Genevieve, and Honore.
Hoopes: You attended Brewster for just one year as a PG, but did any experience you had while at the Academy influence your choice of profession? Todd: Well, not a particular course or teacher, but Brewster certainly prepared me for the discipline to organize and work independently. Those skills have certainly affected the way I work as a chief of staff. Brewster is a lot like Washington, with lots of different personalities. The majority of people in Washington are “transplants” from other places around the world, again somewhat like Brewster.
Hoopes: What is your educational background, any ties with the political scene? Todd: Well, I got my bachelors in history at UCLA, but no, no real connections there.
Hoopes: What steered you toward politics? Had you worked in other fields earlier? Todd: Actually it all started with an internship I received in 1991. I got bit by the policy and political bug, and since then I have worked in various rolls, both in the federal government and in the private sector.
Hoopes: Describe a typical day. Todd: No day is typical, other than drinking from the end of a fire hose. Each day Todd Willens ’89 with his family.
brings it’s own set of challenges, along with some unexpected outcomes. We’re constantly dealing with policies and strategies, and depending on what comes up concerning our state, we have to be able to cover things quickly.
Hoopes: If you could change one thing about the country’s election process, Hoopes: Do you consider yourself a public servant?
what would that be?
Todd: Yes, but I never forget that I am “staff”.
Todd: I’d make the congressional term four years rather than the two we now have, and I’d have it run off cycle to the presidential election cycle.
Hoopes: Did the campaign and the election change the focus of your own activities or those of your office?
Hoopes: Do you feel what you do changes or improves the direction in which
Todd: No changes, really, our activities basically remain the same. The House
the country is going?
of Representatives is up for reelection every two years, so unfortunately, the
Todd: Yes, but then again, not all change is good. I hope to be able to improve the
campaigning never stops.
future my children will have.
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BrewsterConnections – Fall 2012