VCU names Office of Government Relations director

By Leila Ugincius

Matthew A. Conrad has been named director of the Office of Government Relations for Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System, where he will work with elected and appointed officials on the federal, state and local levels to advance the missions of the university effective Nov. 1.

Conrad most recently served as Gov. Bob McDonnell’s deputy chief of staff and deputy counselor, assisting the governor and chief of staff through the planning, administration and management of state government, consisting of more than 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. As part of the administration’s government reform efforts, Conrad worked to streamline and enhance the operations of the executive branch.

"We are fortunate to have Matt join us," said Mark E. Rubin, executive director of the Office of Government Relations. "His experience in state government will be very helpful in representing the university's interests at the federal, state and local levels of government."

Conrad began his career in public service as an assistant attorney general to McDonnell, who served as the state’s attorney general at the time. He earned a promotion to lead attorney for legislation and agency advice. He then was appointed as a special assistant United States attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia as part of interagency taskforces focused on white-collar crime, firearms and drug distribution, primarily in the Richmond metropolitan area.

In 2008, Conrad became founding director of the Virginia Wine Council, a business membership organization representing Virginia's wineries and vineyards on the state and local levels. His work on legislative and economic development issues relating to Virginia’s growing wine industry and its role within the state’s largest industry, agriculture led to his appointment as deputy secretary of agriculture and forestry under Gov. McDonnell in 2010. In that capacity, he oversaw the daily operation of state agencies reporting to that secretariat, as well as legislative development and advocacy.

A native of Appomattox, Conrad graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and French from James Madison University and received his J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He is active in the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, Historic Richmond Foundation, the Storefront for Community Design and the Union Hill Civic Association.