MEET THE TEAM

George McElwee is the founder and president of The Reserve Component (TRC), a lobbying firm with bipartisan relationships that provides scalable, mission-critical support to companies, trade associations, nonprofits, and state and local governments. Recognized as one of The Hill’s Top Lobbyists from 2021 to 2024 and honored by the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics as a Top Lobbyist in 2024, George brings over 25 years of experience in public and private sectors, including 15 years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Before founding TRC, George co-founded a successful lobbying firm and served as managing partner for a decade. Under his leadership, Bloomberg Government named the firm a top lobbying firm in 2021, 2022, and 2023 for its effectiveness in advancing client priorities.

As chief of staff to U.S. Representative Charlie Dent for nearly a decade, George developed a deep understanding of legislative strategy, policy development, and stakeholder engagement. His peers elected him to serve as president of the House Chiefs of Staff Association for three consecutive terms, making him the longest-serving president in the association’s history. Following his time on Capitol Hill, George served as Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs for the Organization for International Investment and Director of Federal Government Affairs for the American Financial Services Association, gaining extensive private-sector experience.

In the Navy Reserve, George is recognized for his ability to advise senior leaders and his expertise in community outreach. Currently serving as the Assistant Officer in Charge of the Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Lt. Cmdr. McElwee is responsible for a detachment of over 40 officers and enlisted personnel. His previous assignments include roles with the U.S. Navy Chief of Information, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, the Navy Office of Community Outreach, and Flag Assistant to the Vice Chief of Information. In 2022, George served on active duty as Deputy Assistant Chief of Information, Community Outreach, providing strategic counsel and support for high-profile Navy events nationwide.

George serves as Co-Chair of the Capitol Hill Wardroom (the Wardroom). The Wardroom is a community of active-duty, reserve, and veteran Navy and Marine Corps professionals who have served or are currently serving in roles on Capitol Hill. It provides a forum for members to connect, share experiences, and support each other as they navigate the intersection of military service and Capitol Hill.

George has achieved significant legislative success throughout his career. In the 118th Congress, he introduced four bipartisan pieces of legislation:

• HR3170 and S1514, the Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act, creating a first-time homebuyer program under FHA for law enforcement, firefighters, teachers, EMTs, and paramedics. Sponsored by nearly 180 members of Congress and endorsed by over 500 organizations, the HELPER Act gained widespread support, including from Minnesota mayors.
• HR4757, the Cease Animal Research Grants Overseas (CARGO) Act, prohibits NIH from funding foreign laboratories for animal experimentation without affecting domestic research.
• HR7220, the EB-5 Regional Center Program Advisory Committee Authorization Act, establishing a USCIS-hosted advisory committee to facilitate communication and coordination in the EB-5 Regional Center Program.

In the 117th Congress, George played a key role in passing the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, which reauthorized the EB-5 Regional Center Program through Fiscal Year 2026. During the 116th Congress, he was instrumental in passing the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee Authorization Act, which was incorporated into the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act and established an advisory body to support DHS and CISA.

Nominated by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate, George is a proud Shippensburg University Council of Trustees member.

A proud alumnus of Shippensburg University, George holds a B.A. in Political Science, an M.A. in Strategic Security Studies from National Defense University, and additional certifications from George Washington University and the Defense Information School.

A native of Pennsylvania, George moved to Washington, D.C. in 1999. He now lives in Fairfax, Virginia, with his wife Joy and their two daughters.