FCC’s Brendan Carr Announces Staff

Today, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr announced the appointment of four individuals that will serve in his office in acting capacities.

“I am very grateful that these talented individuals have agreed to join my office,” Carr said. “They bring a breadth of private and public sector experience and a deep understanding of the FCC and communications policy. With their help, we can get to work immediately on delivering results for the American public.”

Nirali Patel, acting legal adviser for media, consumer protection, and enforcement — Patel will advise Carr on media, consumer protection, and enforcement matters. She is on detail from the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau, where she serves as a deputy chief of the Competition Policy Division. Before joining the commission, Patel was counsel in the technology, media and telecommunications practice of Hogan Lovells US. Prior to that, she practiced communications law at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Sidley Austin. Patel graduated summa cum laude from the American University Washington College of Law and received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Kevin Holmes, acting legal adviser for wireless and public safety — Holmes will advise Carr on wireless and public safety issues. He joins the office from the FCC’s Office of Legislative Affairs, where he worked on spectrum, mobile broadband, and public safety issues. Previously, Holmes worked in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, both as an interim legal adviser in the Office of the Bureau Chief and as an attorney adviser in the Broadband Division. Earlier in his career, he was a legislative aide to Sen. Spencer Abraham. Holmes holds an LL.M. in law and government from the American University Washington College of Law, a J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law and a B.A. from Kalamazoo College.

Nathan Eagan, acting wireline legal adviser — Eagan will advise Carr on wireline issues. He joins the office from the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau, where he most recently was a legal adviser in the Telecommunications Access Policy Division. He came to the FCC through the agency’s Attorney Honors Program, and he has worked on a variety of issues, including universal service and broadband deployment. Eagan received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, where he was a George Washington Scholar and an articles editor for the Federal Communications Bar Journal. He received his undergraduate degree from Clark University in Worcester, Mass.

Natalie Martinez, acting confidential assistant — For the past three years, Martinez has served as the confidential assistant to three successive general counsels of the FCC. Before that, she was the confidential assistant to the chief of the Enforcement Bureau for four years. She began her career at the FCC in 2001 as an office automation clerk in the International Bureau.