BarbaraJenell Hamlett

BarbaraJenell Hamlett served as a congressional staffer for 35 years after starting in November 1978 with the United States Congress. A graduate of George Mason University with a bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in American history, she worked on the Senate side for five years and the House side for 30 years, primarily with Democrats, including a prominent role with Representative Charles Rangel. Her career also included work on political campaigns and with lobbying organizations such as the Rainbow Push Coalition and NARAL. She is the first African-American co-captain of varsity cheerleading in Arlington County and is currently writing two books, including one titled Capitol Hill, the Last Plantation in America, based on her experiences on Capitol Hill from 1978 to 2022. After retiring from Congress, she took a government contracting position with USAID.