Grassley Announces New Chief of Staff

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today announced he has named longtime aide Jennifer Heins as his next Chief of Staff. Heins will take the helm in April as Aaron Cummings is set to depart after nearly six years of Senate service.

 

“I’m incredibly grateful for the service and support Aaron has provided me and my staff. Under his leadership, we’ve notched significant legislative accomplishments and built on our commitment to constituent services,” Grassley said. “Jennifer has been a trusted confidante for many years and is a familiar face to Iowans who meet with me both in Iowa and Washington. Her dedication to Iowa is second to none. She’s widely respected among her colleagues across the Senate and anyone else who’s worked with her. I continue to be blessed with a team of talented public servants who help me to serve and represent Iowans each day.”

 

Heins, a Cedar Rapids native, started in Grassley’s office as an intern in 2011, and was hired as a full-time aide later that year. She currently serves as a Senior Advisor to Grassley and is his Director of Scheduling. In that role, she advises Grassley on public policy matters, communications and operations, and frequently interfaces with state, local and federal leaders as well as Iowans who meet with Grassley. She is also responsible for the logistics behind Grassley’s storied annual 99 county meetings.

 

Cummings joined Grassley’s Judiciary Committee staff in 2017 as Chief Constitution Counsel and Crime Counsel. He was Grassley’s lead policy staffer on the successful passage of the First Step Act, the most significant criminal justice reform in a generation. Cummings was elevated to Chief of Staff in 2019. During his tenure, Grassley served as the Senate’s President pro tempore, and was re-elected to his eighth term in the U.S. Senate. Prior to joining Grassley’s team, Cummings gained extensive legal and public policy experience, working as a lawyer in private practice, an executive at a charitable foundation, and in the speechwriting department of the President George W. Bush White House.

 

Grassley’s senior leadership team in Washington remains in place. They include Penne Barton, Deputy Chief of Staff; James Rice, Legislative Director; and Taylor Foy, Communications Director. Carol Olson, based in Des Moines, serves as State Director. Kolan Davis is Staff Director for Grassley’s Budget Committee team and Rita Lari is Grassley’s Judiciary Committee Chief Counsel.

 

Grassley’s personal office staff comprises 29 employees in Washington handling legislative, administrative and communications responsibilities. It also includes 18 employees in six offices across Iowa handling primarily constituent liaison and services responsibilities.