THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES SENATOR ROBERT BYRD.

The office of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., has announced the addition of Jesse Jacobs as Communications Director. He will oversee the press and communications operations for both the Senate Appropriations Committee and West Virginia statewide communications efforts.

Jacobs replaces long-time Byrd staffer Tom Gavin, who was recently named Communications Director for One.org.

Jacobs is no stranger to Capitol Hill. Previously he served for over a decade as Communications Director for recently retired U.S. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes, D-Md., and the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. In addition from 1993-1996, he oversaw the press operations for Congressman Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md.

A native of Lancaster, Penn., he is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park.

Jacobs’ appointment as Communications Director rounds out Senator Byrd’s overall press operation which also includes the following:

Jenny Thalheimer, Press Secretary, joined the Press Office in March 2007. Prior to her current position, Jenny was the Deputy Communications Director for U.S. Senator Russ Feingold,

D-Wisc., Press Secretary for the National Organization for Women, and Associate Manager of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations for Revlon, Inc. Jenny is a native a Charleston, W.Va., and a graduate of George Washington High School in Charleston, W.Va., and the University of Wisconsin-Madison;

Press Secretary John Bray joined the Press Office in April 2007 after serving as Communications Director for Congressman Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif., for over two years. Prior to working on Capitol Hill, Bray served as spokesman for America Coming Together (ACT) in western Pennsylvania for the 2004 election cycle and as Deputy Press Secretary for the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC);

Cindy Huber, Communications Assistant, who has worked with Senator Byrd’s Press Office for more than two decades; and

Mark Ferrell, Deputy State Director, who also serves as coordinator for West Virginia press operations.