This year, Cassidy & Associates has hired four senior appropriations, defense, and natural resource legislative staffers to join its ranks. Sarah Young, Samantha Swing, Will Fadely, and Andrew Forbes join a growing team of former senior Congressional staff, Administration officials, retired military officers, scientists, engineers, and others who possess extensive legislative, regulatory, campaign, and political expertise.

“Sarah, Samantha, Will, and Andrew bring tremendous experience and skill to Cassidy’s dynamic and successful bipartisan appropriations, defense and natural resources teams. Their expertise and grasp of the complex policy issues will deliver strong results for our clients,” said Cassidy CEO Kai Anderson.

Sarah Young II- Senior Vice President

Sarah Young has joined Cassidy and Associates as a Senior Vice President after serving 21 years with the House Appropriations Committee. While a senior staff member on the Committee, she negotiated key policy provisions with multiple agencies and government entities on a bipartisan and bicameral basis. At Cassidy, Sarah helps clients navigate the appropriations process by developing and executing winning strategies to help achieve their goals.

Sarah most recently served as professional staff on the HouseSubcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies. Her portfolio for the MilCon-VA Subcommittee included military construction, family housing, the NATO Security Investment Program, and Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).

Before joining the MilCon-VA Subcommittee, she handled family advocacy programs, counter drug/narcotics, Missile Defense Agency Programs, TRICARE, the Defense Health Program, and Medical Research for the Defense Subcommittee. She previously worked on the Subcommittee on the Department of Interior, Environmental and Related Agencies.While there, she handled theBureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Special Trustee, Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation, NEA, NEH, Institute of American Indians and Alaskan Arts and Navajo Hopi Relocation accounts. She was on the Majority staff through both Democratic and Republican-led Congresses, over two decades.

Andrew Forbes- Senior Vice President

Andrew Forbes has rejoined the firm in January 2021 as a Senior Vice President, after nearly four years as legislative director for the Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, Sen. James M. Inhofe.

In that capacity, he was directly engaged in NDAA policy and process. He was also integral in Sen. Inhofe’s work on the Environment and Public Works Committee, where he helped draft and secure numerous water resources and infrastructure priorities.

Over 15 years both on and off the Hill, Andrew has developed a deep understanding of the appropriations process and defense, transportation, infrastructure, and water resource development issues from a staff and government relations perspective. Andrew has been essential in helping achieve discretionary funding goals and advancing projects for Cassidy clients.

Previously, Andrew served as a senior legislative aide in the House, where he managed appropriations, transportation, defense, energy, and judiciary matters. He began his Capitol Hill career working for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he spent two and half years and had the opportunity to work on the 2005 highway bill (SAFETEA-LU) and aviation policy directly under former Aviation Subcommittee Chairman, John Mica (R-FL).

Samantha Swing- Vice President

Samantha Swing joined Cassidy in August 2021 as a Vice President. Samantha applies her range of experience to assist clients in navigating congressional and regulatory landscapes. Most recently, Samantha was a member of Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s legislative team, where she led on energy, environment, and climate issues.

Samantha gained her footing on Capitol Hill in the office of the former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. After dedicating years in his office to the natural resources, energy, and environment portfolios, Samantha advised the Leader on banking, housing, animal protection, and nutrition issues.

True to her Nevada roots, Samantha earned a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nevada, Reno.

At Cassidy, Samantha is leading efforts related to a variety of clean energy and natural resources matters.

Will Fadely- Vice President

Will Fadely joined the Cassidy team in May 2021 as a Vice President. Since joining Cassidy, Will’s clients rely on his in-depth experience on Capitol Hill and campaign management working on climate, tribal, energy, and natural resource policies.

Will joined Cassidy after serving as a Senior Government Relations Representative at The Wilderness Society (TWS), where he led federal lobbying coalition strategies to modernize energy policies, deploy renewable energy projects, and guided the external community through the confirmation process for Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

Before TWS, Will led Oceana’s successful lobbying efforts to protect US oceans and sharks. Previously, Will worked for Clean Water Action in Baltimore where, among other priorities, he worked with residents and volunteers to develop and implement plans to address environmental concerns disproportionately affecting communities of color in the city.

Will graduated magna cum laude from George Washington University with a Master of Political Management and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and mass communication from Towson University.