Pablo E. Carrillo has joined Squire Patton Boggs as of counsel in the firm’s Public Policy Practice. Mr. Carrillo served until recently as Chief of Staff to US Senator John McCain, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee and former US Presidential Candidate. He was responsible for the development and implementation of the Senator's legislative and congressional oversight strategy.
Mr. Carrillo previously served as Minority General Counsel of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he advised the Ranking Member and other Republican Senators on the annual national defense authorization act and the Minority's oversight and investigative activities, as well as defense acquisition and contracting policy. He was the lead Republican staff member in developing the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009, a major piece of bi-partisan legislation on the Department of Defense’s weapon systems procurement.
Mr. Carrillo has advised on some of the most high-profile Senate oversight investigations. As Majority Chief Investigative Counsel to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, for example, he advised on a public corruption case with respect to a multibillion Air Force procurement program. He then went on to become Chief Investigative Counsel to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, where he conducted an investigation into allegations of misconduct that ultimately uncovered evidence of public corruption that led to 17 guilty pleas and convictions.
“Pablo is a respected thought leader on national security policy and we are delighted to have him on board,” said former Senate Majority Leader and Squire Patton Boggs Public Policy co-chair Trent Lott. “As Chief of Staff for a high-profile, senior Senator and as Minority General Counsel for a committee that shapes every facet of national security policy, Pablo brings a tremendous skill set, experience and reputation to the firm.”
Jack Deschauer, chair of the Defense & Maritime Security Policy Group, said: “I have had the pleasure of working closely with Pablo for over 15 years on acquisition policy issues and reform. Pablo has a profound knowledge of the acquisition system, both its successes and failures. His ability to be able to work constructively with a wide range of stakeholders has helped Congress make many major improvements in how the entire enterprise works.”
Speaking of his appointment to the firm, Mr. Carrillo added: “It has been a profound honor serving Senator McCain for so many years, working on major pieces of legislation and prominent oversight investigations. After spending 17 years on the Hill, I’m excited for this next chapter at Squire Patton Boggs. Given the firm’s renowned Public Policy Practice and its exceptional legal offerings and extensive global reach, I look forward to being able to contribute my knowledge and experience to the formidable team.”
Mr. Carrillo received his B.A. in Political Economy and International Relations from Tulane University and his J.D. from its School of Law where he studied Maritime and Admiralty Law, serving as Managing Editor of the Tulane Law Review
This appointment follows several high-profile additions to the firm’s Public Policy Practice: former US House Speaker John Boehner joined as a Strategic Advisor in September last year; and former Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Colorado David Blake joined the firm last month to lead the firm’s State Attorneys General Group.