Aaron Rottenstein is the new communications director for Rep. Paul W. Hodes, D-N.H. He comes from the Joint Economic Committee, where he was press secretary.

He succeeds Mark Bergman, who recently left the congressional office to serve as communications director for Hodes’ bid for Senate in 2010.

Matt House has assumed the role of press secretary. He joined Hodes’ staff in July of 2008 and has since served as a staff assistant, office manager and press assistant.

Lance Kotschwar is the new general counsel and senior policy adviser for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, serving under ranking member Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga. He previously served in this capacity under Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., when he was chairman of the committee. Kotschwar has also been chief counsel for former House Agriculture Chairman Larry Combest, R-Texas (1985-2003). For the past two years, he was the Republican general counsel for Joe L. Barton of Texas, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He has also worked at Arent Fox LLP and Foley & Lardner LLP, and served as an Agriculture Department lawyer.

Jennifer Stauffer was promoted to press assistant in the office of Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla. She had served as a staff assistant and, before that, as an intern. Stauffer was previously an intern for former Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla. (1995-2009).

Nicole Ruth has taken on the position of legislative assistant. She joined Posey’s staff in January as a legislative correspondent. Before that, Ruth was a legislative correspondent for former Rep. Bill Sali, R-Idaho (2007-09).

Nathanael Ferguson succeeds Ruth as a legislative correspondent.

Erin Houg was recently hired as Posey’s scheduler and office manager. She previously worked in the office of Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo.

Jeffrey C. Johnson has been appointed assistant director for the Office of Information Technology Systems Development at the FBI. He has also assumed the responsibilities of the FBI’s chief technology officer. Johnson previously worked in the private sector as a manager of information technology development projects. He was also the financial services director of sales for Aditi Technologies and served in various technology roles with Lehman Brothers.

Marc E. Elias has been tapped to become head of the political law practice at the firm Perkins Coie, where he is currently a partner. Elias was most recently lead counsel for Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., during the 2008 Senate election recount and contest. He was also general counsel during the 2008 presidential campaign of Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., and the 2004 presidential campaign of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

Elias will succeed Bob Bauer when he departs to become White House counsel. Bauer was a general counsel to President Obama during the 2008 campaign and to the Democratic National Committee.

Charisse Epsy Glassman is the new vice president of PCT Government Relations LLC, where she will help launch an energy and sustainability practice. She was, until recently, director of government relations for the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. She has also worked as a campaign strategist for the presidential bids of then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. (2001-09) and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. Earlier in her career, she was a senior adviser for the House Foreign Relations Committee.

Michael J. Silvestro has joined BAE Systems Inc. as director of government relations for the electronics, intelligence and support operating group. He comes from Accenture, where he was the manager of government relations for the company’s U.S. defense group. Silvestro previously served as counsel and military adviser to former Rep. H. James Saxton, R-N.J. (1984-2009).

Grace L. Hinchman has been named vice president of external relations and communications at the Financial Accounting Foundation. She has worked on Capitol Hill for Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y. (1977-2001), and Rep. David F. Emery, R-Maine (1975-83). She also spent nine years at Financial Executives International, where she senior vice president.

To tell us of key personnel changes, please call (202) 419-8261, fax (202) 419-8748 or e-mail people@cq.com.