“See you later, bro!” That’s not exactly the farewell one would expect to yell at a Member of Congress. But Christopher Bognanno yelled just that at Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), mistaking the Congressman for a friend.

[IMGCAP(1)]Bognanno has rebounded nicely from his faux pas and was recently promoted from legislative assistant to policy liaison for Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.).

In his new job, Bognanno will be playing a key role in Campbell’s Newport Beach office, serving as a liaison to Washington, D.C. Bognanno, a James Madison University graduate, started off as a staff assistant for Campbell when the Congressman first took office.

Bognanno has an apparently unhealthy obsession with the Discovery Channel. He told Climbers that he “was almost killed by an alligator in the Everglades after watching way too much Discovery Channel and attempting to apply my professional knowledge in a swamp at 9 p.m.”

Climbers recommends he maintain his indoor office job for as long as possible.

Bognanno is joined by Brent Hall, 23, who has been promoted from legislative correspondent/deputy press secretary to legislative assistant. In his new job, Hall will assist with the issues of immigration enforcement, homeland security, education, government reform and labor.

Hall is from Laguna Niguel, Calif., but went to college at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where he completed a double major in political science and history.

“Working for Mr. Campbell has been fantastic, and I am very fortunate to be in the position I am,” Hall told Climbers. “I grew up and went to high school in the

48th district, and it is very gratifying for me to be able to come to D.C. and make a contribution at the federal level for my community.”

In addition to working for Campbell, Hall was previously a deputy field marshal/intern for Tennessee Victory 2006 at the Tennessee Republican Party’s Knoxville office. His future plans include law school.

Danica Dawson, 22, was promoted from staff assistant to Hall’s former role of legislative correspondent/deputy press secretary. Her new responsibilities include drafting responses to constituent correspondence.

Dawson graduated from the University of California-Los Angeles in 2007 with a political science degree. The La Jolla, Calif., native also has experience as an intern in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) office.

She hopes to pursue either an MBA or a master’s degree in communications or public relations.

“I am grateful to be working for such an inspiring and intelligent Member of Congress,” Dawson told Climbers. “Born and raised in southern California, it is an honor to work for a southern California conservative who has a passion for what he does and who leads by example.”

Dawson is a huge college basketball fan.

“If I wasn’t pursuing a career in government, I would pursue press or public relations work for a professional sports team or be a sportscaster for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament,” she said.

Maybe she should encourage Campbell to shoot some hoops in his spare time.

Carolyn Noble was hired to fill Dawson’s former staff assistant role. Noble comes from the House Administration Committee, where she was also a staff assistant. Her duties are managing constituent inquiries and the front office.

She is from Linwood, N.Y., and graduated from Messiah College this year with a bachelor’s degree in politics and international business.

Noble was also an intern for then-Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and for Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.). She hopes to eventually earn a master’s degree in international business.

“Chris, Brent, and Danica have been valuable assets in my office, demonstrating both keen judgment and a deep understanding of the key issues important to the 48th district,” Campbell said in a statement. “I am confident that they will do a tremendous job in their new positions and look forward to their additional contributions. I am also happy to welcome Carolyn to my office and I am confident she will settle into her new role here very well.”

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