Press Releases

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) today announced Republican senior staff appointments for the Committee.

Jack Ruddy has been named Staff Director for the Committee’s Republican staff.  For the last 3 ½ years, Jack has served as the Committee’s Republican Deputy Staff Director, during which time he was responsible for coordinating policy and strategy across the Committee’s broad jurisdiction. He has been deeply involved in the development of major Committee legislation, including two Water Resources Development Acts (WRDAs), two Coast Guard authorization bills, a major aircraft certification reform bill, and more. 

From 2013 until Graves was selected as the Committee’s Republican leader in 2019, Ruddy served as Legislative Director in Graves’ congressional office where he worked to address the Ranking Member’s policy priorities over the course of three WRDA bills, the 2015 surface transportation bill, and the 2018 FAA reauthorization bill, among others.  He first joined the Graves office in 2011.

Michael Falencki has been appointed Deputy Staff Director.  Since October of 2019, Falencki has served as the Highways and Transit Subcommittee Staff Director, and prior to that as Staff Director of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee.  He also previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director in Graves’ Congressional office.

Cheryle Tucker has been appointed Highways and Transit Subcommittee Staff Director.  Tucker has served as a professional staff member of the Subcommittee since January 2019, and she brings a breadth of experience to the position, including 18 years as an Appropriations Committee staff member and two years as a Senate Budget Committee staffer.  She also has experience at the Department of Transportation, working in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation and at the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Policy.

“For nearly a decade, Jack has served as my top staff member for transportation and infrastructure policy, including during the development of multiple major highway bills, FAA reauthorization bills, and other legislation.  Over that time, Jack has developed an extensive expertise in the Committee’s broad jurisdiction, and his knowledge and dedication to these issues make him the perfect choice as the Republican Staff Director for the Committee,” said Graves.  “Jack, Michael, and Cheryle will play critical roles in the coming months as the Committee works to finish the Water Resources Development Act and the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act this year, continues its oversight of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and begins preparations for the next major FAA reauthorization and other efforts to strengthen our infrastructure.”