Young America’s Foundation congratulates Marc Short on being named chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence. There are many, many graduates of Young America’s Foundation who have gone on to serve in key roles in our Movement and have accomplished so much for our cause. Marc’s professional successes run so deep, but he also has a long-time connection with Young America’s Foundation. In 1991, Marc Short joined a few student leaders to organize a rally at Washington and Lee University in support of our armed forces and victory in the Persian Gulf. The event drew 1,700 students and garnered so much attention that President George H. W. Bush wrote a letter in support and it turned the tide of public opinion. This same year Marc interned with YAF, an experience which he later credited as helping to develop his own conservative philosophy. Upon graduation from Washington & Lee in 1992, Marc joined the YAF staff as national director, and soon became the YAF conference director. He then went to work for Ollie North’s Freedom Alliance but returned to YAF 21 years ago at a critical juncture as the executive director of a brand-new effort by the Foundation: saving the Reagan Ranch. He and his wife, Kristen, became the very first YAF leaders on the ground in Santa Barbara. Once the Reagan Ranch project had launched, Marc returned to his native Virginia to pursue a Master’s degree at UVA. He also served in numerous high-profile positions in Washington, including spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security and chief of staff for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. He served in a key capacity for then-Congressman Mike Pence, who named Marc chief of staff for the House GOP Conference. In 2011, Marc returned to the non-profit world as president of Freedom Partners. By 2016, Marc became a top advisor to Mike Pence, and in 2017 President Donald Trump appointed Marc as assistant to the President and White House director of legislative affairs. Marc loyally served the President in this capacity through much of 2018, and Young America’s Foundation congratulates Marc on his return to the White House and chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence. Ronald Reagan once said, “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” That is the epitome of Marc Short. In the White House, Marc performed with grace, humility and astuteness in his demanding and challenging role. His many unsung contributions to the Trump administration’s successes include overseeing the confirmation of a slew of federal judges, the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice, the automatic rollback of regulations under the Congressional Review Act, and significant tax reform. Last summer, Marc’s involvement with YAF came full circle as he addressed the Foundation’s 40th annual National Conservative Student Conference—with his wife and one of his three children sitting in the seats at the same conference Marc helped organize in the early 1990s. At this conference, YAF was honored to present Marc with our Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his tireless and humble commitment to the cause of freedom. However, for the sake of our great nation, we certainly hope Marc Short’s achievements continue for decades to come. Congratulations, Marc!
