Our Team

Michael Gottlieb is President and General Counsel of Ballast Research. In nearly twenty years of experience in Washington as a consultant, policy adviser, and attorney, Mr. Gottlieb has served clients including the President of the United States, Board and C-suite leadership at Fortune 100 companies, state attorneys general, heads of government relations and public affairs, and all three branches of federal government under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Before his tenure at Ballast, Mr. Gottlieb was Special Assistant to the President of the United States and Associate White House Counsel to the President and senior White House staff. In that capacity, Mr. Gottlieb advised the Executive Office of the President and senior agency officials on a range of national policy issues, including those related to healthcare, transportation and infrastructure, national defense and homeland security, privacy and technology, immigration, civil rights and religious liberty, Executive power and authority, and labor. He has worked on behalf of the President with every federal and independent agency, either on specific questions of law and policy or in the implementation of government-wide Executive actions and directions, often subsequent to determinations by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Prior to his work at the White House, Mr. Gottlieb practiced law before the U. S. Supreme Court, where his advocacy was covered by The New York Times, The Washington Times, NPR, The Guardian, The Washington Post, CNN, The National Law Journal, and The Associated Press. Prior to his Supreme Court advocacy, Mr. Gottlieb clerked for the Honorable Thomas B. Griffith, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by President George W. Bush. He also worked in the Executive Branch of the George W. Bush Administration at HHS and as an advisor for several years in the health care sector. Mr. Gottlieb has taught health law and medical ethics at Yale and Georgetown Universities.

Mr. Gottlieb is a Captain in the United States Air Force Reserve, and an Associate Judge Advocate General attached to the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. He is the first openly gay officer to be commissioned to the United States military following the repeal of the military’s longstanding prohibition against such open service. A graduate of Yale, Johns Hopkins, and the University of London, Mr. Gottlieb holds degrees in law, public health, psychology, and linguistics. A former US-UK Fulbright Scholar, he has been honored with awards from the LGBT Bar Association, the United States Air Force, and the Judge Advocate General. He is also a founding Board Member of Wharton’s nonpartisan Elected Leadership Incubator.

A native of California, Mr. Gottlieb now lives in Washington DC with Ari Shapiro, host of All Things Considered.

Michael Gottlieb is President and General Counsel of Ballast Research. In nearly twenty years of experience in Washington as a consultant, policy adviser, and attorney, Mr. Gottlieb has served clients including the President of the United States, Board and C-suite leadership at Fortune 100 companies, state attorneys general, heads of government relations and public affairs, and all three branches of federal government under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Before his tenure at Ballast, Mr. Gottlieb was Special Assistant to the President of the United States and Associate White House Counsel to the President and senior White House staff. In that capacity, Mr. Gottlieb advised the Executive Office of the President and senior agency officials on a range of national policy issues, including those related to healthcare, transportation and infrastructure, national defense and homeland security, privacy and technology, immigration, civil rights and religious liberty, Executive power and authority, and labor. He has worked on behalf of the President with every federal and independent agency, either on specific questions of law and policy or in the implementation of government-wide Executive actions and directions, often subsequent to determinations by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Prior to his work at the White House, Mr. Gottlieb practiced law before the U. S. Supreme Court, where his advocacy was covered by The New York Times, The Washington Times, NPR, The Guardian, The Washington Post, CNN, The National Law Journal, and The Associated Press. Prior to his Supreme Court advocacy, Mr. Gottlieb clerked for the Honorable Thomas B. Griffith, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by President George W. Bush. He also worked in the Executive Branch of the George W. Bush Administration at HHS and as an advisor for several years in the health care sector. Mr. Gottlieb has taught health law and medical ethics at Yale and Georgetown Universities.

Mr. Gottlieb is a Captain in the United States Air Force Reserve, and an Associate Judge Advocate General attached to the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. He is the first openly gay officer to be commissioned to the United States military following the repeal of the military’s longstanding prohibition against such open service. A graduate of Yale, Johns Hopkins, and the University of London, Mr. Gottlieb holds degrees in law, public health, psychology, and linguistics. A former US-UK Fulbright Scholar, he has been honored with awards from the LGBT Bar Association, the United States Air Force, and the Judge Advocate General. He is also a founding Board Member of Wharton’s nonpartisan Elected Leadership Incubator.

A native of California, Mr. Gottlieb now lives in Washington DC with Ari Shapiro, host of All Things Considered.

Jason Clark serves as a Partner and Vice President of Strategy for Ballast Research. In this role he oversees the consulting, research, and new product functions of Ballast Research. He formerly held a number of positions with Ballast Research and National Journal, including director of product development, research consultant, and strategy & new product development associate. A native of Colorado, Jason worked in business consulting, product innovation, and strategic research before moving to D.C.

Christian Garcia is senior director of Ballast Research. Prior to joining Ballast Research, he held various research positions in the public policy, legal, and academic arenas. While working for the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness and the United States Senate, Christian conducted research on economic competitiveness, job creation, and community revitalization. He has also worked as an analyst for a financial litigation firm and as a research assistant for Harvard University. Christian received his honors B.A. in government from Harvard University. He is a native of Weehawken, New Jersey.

Michael Griffin is head of research at Ballast Research. Michael has more than 15 years of experience leading research and product at high-growth organizations. Michael served as an executive director and chief research officer at CEB (now Gartner) where he oversaw global research for CEB’s largest divisions. Michael also served as chief enterprise product officer at a leading venture-backed edtech startup and founded a data-driven research boutique in Washington, D.C. He serves as an advisor to a predictive analytics startup.

Michael is a graduate of Georgetown University where he received his B.S. and J.D. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife and two daughters.

Sean Harper serves as senior director of partnerships & service for Ballast Research. Sean is responsible for working with National Journal’s partner organizations to assist them in better understanding and effectively positioning their policy brand among decision makers in Washington. Before joining National Journal in 2014, Sean worked as the solutions development and client delivery manager for the consulting services organizations within both of Princeton Information Ltd. and Resolvit, LLC. Sean is a native of Silver Spring, MD and graduated in 2006 from the Boston College, where he holds a B.A. in political science and a B.A. in history.

Sean Harper serves as senior director of partnerships & service for Ballast Research. Sean is responsible for working with National Journal’s partner organizations to assist them in better understanding and effectively positioning their policy brand among decision makers in Washington. Before joining National Journal in 2014, Sean worked as the solutions development and client delivery manager for the consulting services organizations within both of Princeton Information Ltd. and Resolvit, LLC. Sean is a native of Silver Spring, MD and graduated in 2006 from the Boston College, where he holds a B.A. in political science and a B.A. in history.