Rob Epplin

Rob Epplin is President and Founder of Epplin Strategic Planning, launched in February 2015.

As a veteran Senate Republican staffer for 23 years, Rob has broad legislative experience on issues ranging from tax, trade and foreign policy to domestic policy issues. He is widely respected for expertise in policy, legislative process and strategic planning on budget and appropriations issues.

Upon retiring from Capitol Hill in 2012, Rob worked at Gephardt Government Affairs for three years as a Vice President where he advised coalition, corporate and international clients.  Rob’s career centered on advising and working for centrist Republicans spanning three decades.

His Senate career includes tenure as Legislative Director to Senator Susan Collins (R-ME).  Rob provided legislative, political and strategic advice with oversight on her agenda including appropriations, defense, tax and financial issues.

Rob also served as a professional staffer on Senate Finance Committee and handled tax and trade issues for Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) on that committee. Rob also served as Legislative Director to Senator Smith during his tenure on Senate Finance, Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources and Senate Foreign Relations.

Rob began working in the Senate in 1993 as an adviser for budget, economic, foreign affairs, and defense issues for former Senator Bob Packwood (R-OR).

He has also served in a variety of roles in the Executive branch, including as an analyst at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and as an aide in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Education under Lamar Alexander.

Rob began his career in Washington as a research analyst at the Republican National Committee working for Lee Atwater.

He earned a Masters Degree in International Relations from the University of Washington, and he graduated with his Bachelors Degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.