Today, Ranking Member Rob Bishop (R-Utah) announced changes to senior Republican staff.  William (Bill) Ball will become Full Committee Deputy Staff Director, while still continuing his role as the Subcommittee Staff Director on Water, Oceans and Wildlife, Ashley Nichols has been promoted to Subcommittee Staff Director on Energy and Mineral Resources, and Lee Lonsberry has joined the Committee as Senior Communications Advisor.

  “Bill has been a huge asset on strategy, managing teams and moving policy forward. Ashley is a driven professional and results-oriented policy expert. Lee has a creative mind and has been a key advisor for years. All three are talented professionals who will play critical roles as Committee Republicans promote good policy and push back against wrongheadedness.”

William (Bill) Ball, Deputy Staff Director, Full Committee

Ball has served as subcommittee staff director on Water, Oceans and Wildlife since 2017. Previously, he served as professional staff on the subcommittee and four years with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) handling fisheries issues. 

 Ashley Nichols, Staff Director, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources

Nichols has served as professional staff on Energy and Mineral Resources since 2017. Previously, Nichols served in the offices of Representative Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Representative Jo Bonner (R-AL). Nichols is from Mobile, AL and graduated from Auburn University in 2011 and from Georgetown University with a Masters of Public Policy in 2013.

Lee Lonsberry, Senior Communications Advisor, Full Committee  

Lonsberry currently serves as Director of Communications in the personal office of Rep. Bishop. While maintaining that role, he will now advise and support the communication efforts on the full committee level. Lonsberry is an award-winning radio news producer, reporter, and anchor. He was raised in Mt. Morris, NY and is a graduate of Brigham Young University.