U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) announced Tuesday the promotion of longtime staffer Sean Ross as her new chief of staff.
Ross has served as Britt's deputy chief of staff and as director of communications when she first took office. Ross also played a major during her campaign for U.S. Senate in 2022.
Ross and his partner Paul Shashy launched the operation that is credited with getting Britt to D.C. Often going on the road with their candidate themselves. From the grassroots ground game with local messaging straight to voters, wherever they could be, they were. Whether small conservative clubs that met at lunchtime or local radio studios, it was Ross and Shashy's strategy that is largely credited with Britt's success.
As first reported by YellowHammer News, “I can think of no one more qualified to step into this role than Sean Ross. Since before I even announced my candidacy, Sean has been an indispensable member of my team. From day one of the campaign to each day during my time serving in the United States Senate, his expertise in articulating Alabama’s values and helping connect with constituents across our state has been nothing short of remarkable,” Britt said.
“I could not be more grateful for his unwavering commitment, and I have no doubt his intuition and intellect will strengthen our team, our state, and our nation. Sean’s unparalleled ability to seamlessly integrate legislative priorities with dedicated outreach will continue to ensure our office works diligently to represent the needs and values of the people of Alabama in Washington. The 119th Congress is off to a strong start with his leadership as Chief of Staff.”
Ross graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in political science and government. He studied at the university from 2012 to 2016, during which time he served the Student Government Association, the Coordinating Council for Honor Societies, the Order of Omega, Students for Open Doors and Ethical Leadership, Cardinal Key, and Lambda Sigma.
When Britt was attacked following her rebuttal of President Joe Biden's State of the State Union, Ross set the record straight, confirming that "she had been referring to Romero's story" and claiming that what she said was "100 percent correct."
"The story Senator Britt told was 100% correct," Ross said. "And there are more innocent victims of that kind of disgusting, brutal trafficking by the cartels than ever before right now. The Biden administration's policies — the policies in this country that the President falsely claims are humane — have empowered the cartels and acted as a magnet to a historic level of migrants making the dangerous journey to our border."
A recent social media post featuring an image of Ross Britt said, "Members of my team joined local Wiregrass officials and Chamber members for the grand opening of my regional office at the Dothan Courthouse and Federal Building. I'm thrilled to reinforce our presence in Southeast Alabama as we continue to prioritize timely, effective constituent services."
Ross will take over the role from Clay Armentrout, former counsel and legislative director, to U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, who served for two years as Britt's top staffer after she first took office in 2023. Armentrout is stepping into the private sector as senior vice president of government relations at Allen Control Systems.
In a press release earlier this week, "Allen Control Systems Appoints Clay Armentrout as Senior Vice President of Government Relations," the company said. "Allen Control Systems (ACS) is a defense technology company that creates autonomous precision weapon systems to safeguard our military and partners, ensuring dominance on every battlefield. ACS is ushering in a new era of battlefield security, equipping U.S. and allied forces with the next generation of counter-drone technology. The company's first product, Bullfrog, is a first-of-its-kind AI-powered robotic weapon station that enhances battlefield effectiveness by transforming legacy or modern weapon systems to achieve unmatched accuracy and impact. ACS is headquartered in Austin, Texas, with offices in Alexandria, Va. and Huntsville, Ala."
Apryl Marie Fogel is a Birmingham resident who frequently appears on and guest hosts radio programs around the state. She can be reached at [email protected] or on X and Facebook at @aprylmarie.
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