PoliticsPA is proud to present the 14th installment of our Chief of Staff Spotlight feature. This week, we talked to Patrick Lyden, CoS to Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8).

Background

What’s your name?

Patrick Lyden

Who is your boss?

Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08)

What is your birthday?

August 21

Where did you grow up?

York, PA

Where did you go to college and what was your major?

West Chester University of PA, majored in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration

Are you married? Dating? Single? (optional)

Married to Sarah Rittling Lyden

Do you have any kids? If so, how old and what are their names? (optional)

Alice

Professional

What was your first political job?

I interned for Congressman Bill Goodling but my first paid job was as a Staff Assistant for the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives.  

What was your biggest break in politics?

When Mr. Goodling stopped calling me “Constituent Boy” and remembered my name – just kidding.  There have been a lot of breaks that have contributed greatly to my time in Washington.  Working for Speaker Boehner when he was Chairman of Education and the Workforce Committee was one and working as a lobbyist for NFIB under Dan Danner was another.  Both expanded my knowledge, relationships and experience tremendously.  I feel grateful to both for the opportunities they have provided me.

How long have you worked with your boss?

Since December of 2010

What was your position when you first started in the office?

CoS

What’s the worst job outside of politics you have ever had?

I’ve had a lot of jobs and most taught me a little something different. Probably the worst was scraping deformed animal crackers off a conveyor belt right after they came out of the oven.  It was hot, boring and I smelled like animal crackers for days afterwards.  I still can’t eat them to this day.

Personal

What has been your proudest single accomplishment/achievement since working on Capitol Hill?

Its hard to pin-point one but I hope my greatest accomplishments are still in front of me.

What is your favorite PA sports team?

Working for a SE PA Member, I’m going to take a lot of heat for this: The Six-time Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers

Blackberry or I-Phone?

Blackberry

What political figure do you most admire (excluding your boss), and a sentence or two why?

Beyond the rank and file Members I work with on a daily basis that do the right thing day in and day out, I admire George Washington because he set the standard and tone for this great country.  He could have written his own ticket but he was guided by what was right and what was best for our country. I aspire to live by his example of selfless leadership.

What makes a Chief of Staff “good” and why? advice would you give to the aspiring Chiefs of Staff out there?

I don’t have advice that is any better than what my colleagues have already offered.  The best part about this job is that I learn something new every day.  However for those that want to be a Chief of Staff, I have some advice on how to prepare for this job – find cats, attempt to herd them…