Sean is a government affairs coordinator who focuses on federal policy issues in the Washington, D.C. office of K&L Gates.

He concentrates on federal budget and appropriations issues pertaining to defense, bio-defense, homeland security, energy, nanotechnology, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, telecommunications, foreign aid, education and health care. In this capacity, he has assisted and advised a variety of clients on the annual budget and appropriations process, as well as matters pertaining to federal stimulus and deficit reduction.

Sean worked for Senator Barbara A. Mikulski for two and a half years prior to joining the firm

W. Dennis Stephens is a government affairs counselor at K&L Gates. He previously served as a senior staff member for several House Republican members, including former Majority Leader Dick Armey. Dennis has more than 37 years working in Republican campaigns, policy, and political matters including more than 21 years experience as a Republican lobbyist.

Dennis works on a wide range of public policy issues including tax, technology, foreign policy, and transportation on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, associations, and small businesses.

Dennis has worked closely with many Republicans in the House and Senate including members of the Republican Study Committee. He has especially close relationships with the House Republican leadership and senior staff as well as many of the incoming freshmen.

In addition, Dennis has worked closely for more than two decades with every leading conservative activist and grassroots organization including The Heritage Foundation, Americans for Tax Reform, FreedomWorks, Americans for Prosperity, and the Family Research Council.

Dennis is very active in the conservative movement and is a regular speaker for the Leadership Institute Capitol Hill Staff School. He is also consulted regularly by Republican elected officials to review both policy issues and electoral strategy and tactics.

Prior to working on Capitol Hill, Dennis spent three years in the second term of the Reagan Administration, including the Office of Presidential Personnel in the White House.

Colonel Steve McCain retired from the Department of Defense (DOD) after twenty-six years of service and now provides national security policy and appropriations counsel to defense, energy, aerospace, and homeland security industries, academia, and other nonprofit organizations regarding federal business development, budget and acquisition, as well as congressional actions.

Prior to joining the firm, Colonel McCain was the director of legislative affairs, U.S. Pacific Command, and principal advisor to the combatant commander for all congressional liaison. He advocated directly with Congress and professional committee staff for programs, budgets, and policies, and executed legislative strategy which improved global defense force capability. Colonel McCain provided critical support for senior military leadership testimony before Congress regarding the Asia-Pacific region.

In the early stages of Operation Enduring Freedom, he served as commander of an Air Expeditionary Wing where he led support and combat operations of Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and coalition forces in Afghanistan. He also commanded a combat search and rescue operations group, where he was responsible for flying, training, maintenance, and deployment of personnel and aircraft to combat operations worldwide.

In his capacity as the principal deputy legislative assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he coordinated legislative efforts with senior military leaders which helped galvanize congressional support for billions of dollars in healthcare reform, operational readiness, and weapon modernization programs. Prior to his tour with the Joint Staff, he was the director of legislative affairs in the Washington, D.C., office of the U.S. Special Operations Command, where he built congressional advocacy for special operations missions and for significant funding increases in key classified programs.

His experience also includes service as a Branch Chief of Aircraft Systems at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia, where he managed aircraft and helicopter modification programs. In this capacity, he resolved acquisition, contracting, and logistics challenges with the defense industry.

Colonel McCain has over 2500 hours in various aircraft as a navigator, including 150 in combat. His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

Mr. Valentine represents a wide variety of clients in a broad range of legislative, regulatory, administrative, litigation and government enforcement matters before the federal government. His clients include major corporations, trade associations and business coalitions. He has also represented a number of prominent individuals, including a federal judge in her personal capacity and the prime minister of a foreign government.