ASTA today announced that Eben Peck has been hired to the position of vice president, Government Affairs, for the Society. As part of his new job, Peck will be responsible for all of ASTA’s state and federal and state lobbying efforts, as well as its political action committee, ASTAPAC.

“Eben brings with him an outstanding reputation on Capitol Hill and a proven track record. Given the increased spotlight on our industry from all sectors of government as well as the media, there has never been a more appropriate time to have a strong voice like Eben’s on Capitol Hill, representing the interests of all travel agents,” said ASTA Senior Vice President of Legal and Industry Affairs Paul Ruden. “We are extremely fortunate to have him joining ASTA’s team.”

I am thrilled to join ASTA and look forward to tackling the key issues facing the industry,” said Peck. “With the recent government focus on increasing the United States’ ranking as a top tourist destination, coupled with the major role tourism plays in the U.S. economy, there has never been a more exciting time to be a part of this industry and its premier association.”

Peck joins ASTA after seven years with the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB), where he served most recently as senior director of government affairs. At CPB, Peck was the primary liaison between CPB and the federal government, responsible for CPB’s appropriations requests; managing relationships with government relations offices of other national public broadcasting organizations; and briefing the CPB Board of Directors on federal developments.

Prior to joining CPB, Eben served for five years on the staff of U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), acting as the Senator’s policy advisor and representative for several legislative issues, including transportation, homeland security, labor and appropriations.

He graduated from Colby College in Waterville, Maine with a BA in History in 1998 and in 2009 earned his Masters in Government degree from the Johns Hopkins University, with his thesis on Congressional earmarks, earning honors as well as the William F. Clinger, Jr., Award for Assessing a Topic in Institutional or Representative Government Using Original Research and Displaying Superior Writing.