Neal Kirby has been hired as press secretary for Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash. Kirby was online communications manager for the House Natural Resources Committee. He also worked on the committee as an intern. He was a research clerk at BGR Group. He also served as a campaign administrator for a Louisiana state senator’s race.

Liz King has been promoted to legislative director for Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa. King was a legislative assistant and senior policy adviser. She has worked as a middle school teacher in South Philadelphia with Teach for America.

Jared Cameron Bass has been hired as a legislative assistant for Fattah. He was a Philadelphia City Council fellow in the office of council President Darrell Clarke.

Steve Simon has been appointed executive director of The International Institute for Strategic Studies-US and corresponding director for IISS-Middle East. Simon was senior director for Middle East and North Africa for the National Security staff at the White House under President Barack Obama. He also has served as the Hasib Sabbagh senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. He previously was an assistant director and senior fellow at the IISS. He also worked as a senior analyst at the Rand Corp.

Chris Griffin has been named executive director of the Foreign Policy Initiative. He was legislative director for former Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn. Griffin also has worked as a military legislative assistant to Lieberman. He was a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank.

George Kelemen has been named senior vice president of government and political affairs at the Airports Council International-North America. He is senior director of external affairs for the American Cancer Society. He has worked as director of congressional relations and political affairs at AARP. He also worked as a campaign manager and director of government relations and advocacy and grass roots at AARP.

The following people have been promoted at trade group CTIA-The Wireless Association:

Athena Polydoru has been promoted to executive director. Polydoru was the director of wireless Internet development. She also is the co-chairwoman of the Women in Wireless Communications & Outreach Task Force.

Jackie McCarthy has been promoted to wireless Internet development director. McCarthy was the director of state regulatory affairs in CTIA’s external and state affairs department. She has worked as director of government affairs for the Personal Communications Industry Association. She also has worked as the managing director of IP services at Network Building & Consulting.

Matthew Gerst has been promoted to director in the external and state affairs department. Gerst was counsel. He has worked as a fellow at the Advanced Communications Law & Policy Institute. He also has worked as a media fellow at the Federal Communications Commission.

The following people have been promoted at law and lobbying firm K&L Gates:

Frank Na has been promoted to partner in the investment management practice. Na was an associate.

Stephanie Robinson has been promoted to partner in the consumer financial services practice. Robinson was an associate. She has worked as a program assistant for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Robert Smith has been promoted to partner in the capital markets practice. Smith was of counsel.