Meet Our Team

For more than a decade, John Fuller has been providing government affairs advice and counsel to leaders in some of the top telecommunications companies, energy companies, and colleges and universities. He is as comfortable in a university research lab or corporate board room as he is walking the halls of Congress or the FCC.

John advises clients on an array of issues including spectrum auctions, cyber-security, natural gas projects and permitting issues, as well as research and development funding. In addition, John has significant experience in transportation policy, from pandemic transit funding to issues related to truck weights, and a host of other issues. He has strong ties to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. John is well connected on Capitol Hill and at the federal agencies and is adept at helping his clients navigate their way through the federal government.

John received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Lee University and his law degree from Florida State University. Before joining VSA, he clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Melinda Harmon, practiced contracts and real estate law in Florida, and worked on Capitol Hill.

Leslee Gilbert is a Vice President at Van Scoyoc Associates with an extensive background in higher education, research, technology development and politics. She has over 20 years of hands-on experience in the Washington policy-making process, and over 25 years of experience working in and with institutions of higher education.

At VSA, Dr. Gilbert has developed a practice that focuses on research, development and competitiveness in fields such as aerospace, defense, cybersecurity, information technology, basic and applied science, environmental policy, and energy.

Before joining VSA, she was Majority Staff Director and Counsel of the House of Representatives' Science, Space, and Technology Committee, the primary committee for overseeing research and development in agencies such as NSF, NASA, NIST, NOAA, EPA, and the Departments of Energy, Homeland Security, and Transportation. She played a central role in developing and implementing Federal science, technology, and civil space policy, including NASA reauthorization bills, the Energy Independence and Security Act, and America COMPETES.

Prior to coming to Washington, Leslee was an Assistant Professor at St. Mary's University in Minnesota, where she also served as a faculty officer. She has published a variety of articles for academic and general audiences. She holds a B.A. from Texas A&M University, an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky, and a J.D. from the Washington College of Law at American University. She is a member of the Maryland Bar.

John "J.P." Dowd joined the firm as Vice President on September 5, 2023. J.P. was most recently the Chief of Staff to former Senator and Senate President Pro Tempore, Patrick Leahy (D-VT).

J.P. began his career working as a Military Legislative Assistant for Senator Leahy and rose through the ranks to become Projects Director, Legislative Director, and ultimately Chief of Staff for the last 10 years. Over that time, Senator Leahy was the Chairman or Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Appropriations Committee and J.P. served as a critical link between Members of the Committees, Committee staff, and the Senator's personal staff. J.P. also served as a liaison for constituents and the business community in Vermont, helping deliver millions of dollars back to the Green Mountain State.

As the top aide to the most senior Democratic Senator, J.P. has been involved in many of the most consequential legislative debates in recent years. J.P. has worked in a bipartisan fashion managing communications and legislative strategies to shepherd priorities from inception to passage. In addition to managing Senator Leahy's office, J.P. also served as the political designee for the Senator's 2016 re-election campaign.

Originally from Washington, DC, J.P. received his B.A. from the University of Vermont and his M.B.A. from Georgetown University. J.P. and his wife, Kara, live in Washington, DC with their four children.

Holten Stringer returns to Van Scoyoc Associates (VSA) as an Associate Vice President and leading AI advisor, bringing with him a wealth of experience in federal AI policy. Most recently, Holten served as Majority Professional Staff on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee where he directed the Speaker's Bipartisan Task Force on AI. In this role, he led a group of 24 Members of Congress through panels to develop comprehensive AI policy solutions. Holten worked across Committees — including Energy & Commerce, Financial Services, Judiciary, Armed Services, and many more — as well as with House Leadership, in a bipartisan fashion, to be the primary co-author of the Task Force's influential report to Congress.

In addition to his leadership of the AI Task Force, Holten oversaw all non-defense and non-healthcare federal research and development — specifically within the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) at the White House. He co-authored and advanced pivotal AI legislation through Committee, including the NSF AI Education Act, the CREATE AI Act, the Small Business AI Advancement Act, the LIFT Act, and the AI Reliability and Advancement Act.

Before his time on the House Science Committee, Holten worked for Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) during the 116th and 117th Congresses. He played a central role in developing the Shuttered Venues Operators Grant Program (Save Our Stages Act), which provided a $15 billion lifeline for entertainment venues during COVID-19 shutdowns, and worked on infrastructure cybersecurity provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. As Grants Coordinator, Holten helped stakeholders receive more than $200 million in discretionary grants.

Originally from Flower Mound, TX, Holten received his Bachelor of Science in Economics from Texas A&M University.