West Point Graduate Named Partner and Chief Operating Officer of American Strategies
Thomas J. Ratcliff, a West Point graduate, former Army Scout/Attack helicopter pilot and campaign staffer of Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole, has been named Partner and Chief Operating Officer of American Strategies, a national political strategy, public policy, government affairs and public relations firm.
Columbus, OH (PRWEB) February 3, 2004 -- American Strategies President &
CEO Brett A. Sciotto announced that Thomas J. Ratcliff has joined the firm as
partner and chief operating officer.
Until late 2003, Ratcliff served as
spokesman and speechwriter for Ohio’s Lt. Governor and Director of Commerce
Jennette B. Bradley.
“For over a decade, Thomas and I have worked
together for our shared vision of a stronger America,” said Sciotto. “From the
halls of West Point to our days in the White House and in the Army, we have
always shared a common passion for our nation.”
Sciotto continued, “I am
proud to once again have the opportunity to work side-by-side with my long-time
friend and confidant. His leadership, experience, and vision will not only
enhance American Strategies in all that we do, but his strength of character
will serve as a daily reminder of the relevance of our mission. This company,
and indeed our nation are better with Thomas Ratcliff doing what he does best -
inspiring others and leading the way."
Ratcliff also currently serves as
national press secretary for GradPAC, a service academy political action
committee based in Washington, DC and comprised of graduates of West Point,
Annapolis, the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the U.S.
Merchant Marine Academy. GradPAC holds as it mission the support of fellow
service academy graduates who have served their nation with distinction and
valor in uniform and now seek election to the U.S. House, U.S. Senate or the
Presidency of the United States.
Lieutenant (Retired) Ratcliff is a
Dean’s List graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Prior
to attending West Point, he was an honors student and inductee of Omicron Delta
Kappa and five other national honoraries at Miami University. He was also named
West Point’s first-ever White House intern as a cadet.
He served on
active duty as an Army Scout/Attack helicopter pilot until experiencing a
career-ending injury. During the ’96 presidential election cycle, he served as
Senator Bob Dole’s veterans’ director, events coordinator and coalitions
chairman for Ohio. After the ’96 campaign, Ratcliff was appointed to serve as
spokesman and public information officer for Governor George V. Voinovich’s
Department of Commerce, fielding more than 1500 media calls and crafting
hundreds of news releases during his tenure under both Governor Voinovich and
Governor Bob Taft.
In late 1998, Ratcliff was part of a small group of
ardent Elizabeth Dole supporters who—through nationwide polling and empirical
data collection—illustrated to Mrs. Dole that she could become the first
legitimate female candidate for the presidency in 2000. After serving as the
Midwest director of operations during this successful “draft” effort, Ratcliff
became Mrs. Dole’s Ohio campaign manager and political director during her
candidacy.
Ratcliff is a member of numerous military and aviation
organizations including the Army Aviation Association of America, the American
Institute of Avionics and Astronautics, the Association of Graduates of West
Point, and the Society of American Military Engineers.
He is also active
in veterans’ organizations including the American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled
American Veterans, WWII Memorial and the Ohio Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen. In
early 2003, he became a member of the board of trustees of the Ohio Veterans
Hall of Fame Foundation. More recently, Ratcliff was named to the Ohio steering
committee of Veterans for Bush-Cheney ’04.
He is also involved in many
philanthropic and historical preservation endeavors including the White House
Historical Association, the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Supreme Court Historical
Societies, the Smithsonian Institution and the presidential library foundations
of Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Reagan and Bush. Additionally, he is a
benefactor of the U.S. Holocaust Museum and the National Underground Railroad
Freedom Center.
Ratcliff maintains his residence in Powell,
Ohio.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/2/prweb102243.htm