Denzel McGuire

Chief of Federal & State Government Relations

Denzel brings to DISCUS more than 20 years’ experience in government relations, grassroots and coalition building. Denzel has deep roots on Capitol Hill, serving in top positions for Senate Republicans including chief policy advisor to U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY); deputy chief of staff to U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and chief of staff to U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH). Denzel also served as a program associate director at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) where she advised the director of OMB, cabinet members and agency heads on budget and policy matters, and reviewed and approved all executive branch actions related to education, labor and income management, and food programs.

Most recently, Denzel was the principal of McGuire LLC, a legislative, regulatory and advocacy firm specializing in budget, education and workforce issues.

She also spent three years at the Grocery Manufacturers of America as the executive vice president for government affairs. In that capacity, Denzel managed a team of lobbyists and directed campaigns to address federal and state legislation and regulations impacting food and beverage manufacturers and consumers.

Earlier in her career on Capitol Hill, Denzel also served as the minority staff director of the Senate Budget Committee and also held positions on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources; and U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Denzel lives in Virginia and received a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Virginia.