Bottoms staffed Rep. John Garamendi’s leadership of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee and Transportation Infrastructure committee and will advise defense, transportation, technology, and maritime clients as Democrats prepare to take the House majority.
WASHINGTON, D.C. & SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Vogel Group today announced that Bradley Bottoms, who most recently served as Chief of Staff to Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), has joined the firm as a Principal, effective November 11, 2026. Bottoms will be based in San Francisco, where he will establish the firm’s California presence, splitting his time between San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Bottoms’ arrival significantly strengthens Vogel Group’s senior Democratic bench in the House as Democrats prepare to take the House majority in the 120th Congress, and deepens the firm’s capabilities for defense, transportation, technology, and maritime clients seeking counsel on Capitol Hill.
Most recently, Bottoms served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Garamendi, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, a subcommittee Garamendi previously chaired. Garamendi also serves on the Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee and on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he sits on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, Highways and Transit, and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittees. In that role, Bottoms led the office’s work on military readiness, shipbuilding, and the defense industrial base, and managed a broad legislative portfolio spanning defense, maritime, infrastructure, and California priorities. He began his career in Garamendi’s office as an intern and climbed to Chief of Staff, giving him a first-hand understanding of how the House and Democratic leadership operates.
At Vogel Group, Bottoms will advise defense, transportation, technology, and maritime clients on legislative strategy before the House, with a focus on the Armed Services Committee, Transportation and Infrastructure committee, and shipbuilding and industrial policy. He will also lead the firm’s growth in California, advising Bay Area companies and institutions on their federal strategies.
“Bradley is one of the most respected senior Democratic staff leaders in the House, and he joins us at exactly the right moment,” said Alex Vogel, Chief Executive Officer of Vogel Group. “As Democrats prepare to lead the House again, Bradley gives our clients counsel from someone who has sat at the center of the decisions that matter — on readiness, shipbuilding, and the defense budget. And with his base in San Francisco, he extends our reach to the West Coast’s defense, technology, and maritime innovators.”
“Over the past 12 years, I’ve had the privilege of watching Bradley grow from an intern to Legislative Director, leading our transportation committee work, and ultimately serving as my Chief of Staff for the past eight years” said Congressman John Garamendi. “Bradley has an exceptional understanding of every aspect of government, from policy and legislation to political campaigns and the relationships necessary to get things done. His judgment, leadership, and ability to navigate complex challenges have been invaluable to me and the communities we serve.”
“Bradley knows how the House works — not just the process, but the people and the politics,” said Ali Khimji, Principal at Vogel Group. “His relationships across the Democratic Caucus and his command of defense and maritime policy will immediately strengthen the counsel we provide our clients.”
“Vogel Group has built a bipartisan platform that combines policy expertise with a genuine ability to deliver results,” said Bottoms. “I’m excited to join such a talented team, to build the firm’s San Francisco presence, and to help clients navigate a new House majority.”
Bottoms is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, where he studied political science and sociology and served as vice president of the Associated Students.
Vogel Group is a top-rated bipartisan lobbying and advisory firm serving companies, associations, asset managers and other stakeholders around the world. From our offices in Washington, D.C., Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Tennessee, and Virginia, our firm provides strategic counsel and government affairs support in understanding, managing, communicating and capitalizing on government and political risk.