Jenny Rosenberg brings nearly two decades of experience as a high-ranking executive branch and Capitol Hill official to JTR Strategies, which she founded in 2017. Her expertise and effectiveness have earned widespread recognition including being named to The Hill's Top Lobbyists 2024. Throughout her career, Ms. Rosenberg has been involved in transportation and health policy and regulation, as well as government oversight, and public affairs. Working directly with Jenny, clients benefit from her expert understanding of the inner workings of federal government agencies, as well as the intersection of Capitol Hill, the Executive Branch, media, and K Street, which she draws upon to provide best in class counsel and create successful influencing strategies.
Prior to launching JTR Strategies in Washington, DC, Jenny served in senior executive positions at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) under President Obama including as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs and as an Assistant Administrator at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Her experience on Capitol Hill includes serving in senior positions on three high profile committees in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives including the Senate Commerce Committee (Majority) and the Senate Appropriations Committee (Majority), and the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee (Majority). She also served on the personal staffs of legendary transportation leaders, U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd and U.S. Senator John D. “Jay” Rockefeller, both of West Virginia.
Ms. Rosenberg has established herself as a highly respected and effective lobbyist and public affairs strategist, focusing the majority of her practice in transportation, health, legislative policy, and regulation. As a former official in the Obama Administration with a distinct regulatory and public affairs background, Jenny draws upon her experiences and relationships to help each of JTR Strategies' clients develop and drive tailored strategies focused on results.
Jenny represents her clients before the Executive Branch and myriad congressional committees and offices. She also counsels clients on litigation matters, oversight issues, responses to congressional inquiries, regulatory filings, and testimony before congressional committees.
JUSTIN TOWLES Partner
Justin Towles has garnered widespread recognition as an Aerospace Executive with an ability to drive consensus on complex policy issues in the areas of advanced aviation technology, airport infrastructure, and intermodal connectivity. He is known as a thought leader throughout industry and has presented at dozens of domestic and international conferences and has organized more than 30 successful large-scale events and summits. Through his time in government and in the private sector as an aerospace industry executive, an association government affairs leader, and as a successful entrepreneur, Justin has built a diverse background which allows him to anticipate stakeholder perspectives and identify novel pathways to success.
Prior to joining JTR Strategies, Justin served as President of Crown Consulting, Inc., a 250+ person company with several large strategy and support contracts with the FAA, NASA and the U.S. Dept. of Energy. In the years prior, Justin was an Advanced Aviation Practice leader at Akin Gump, a top public law and policy firm and previously co-founded Ascension Global, a management consulting firm focused on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) technology, which was absorbed by Hyundai Motors’ AAM division.
Before founding Ascension, he was the Vice President of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs for the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), where he represented the interest of every major domestic airport, and many general aviation members. Justin also worked in analysis for the Maryland Aviation Administration, as a Special Assistant to the Governor of Maryland, and as legislative staff for two Members of Congress.
JAMES HNAT Partner James Hnat is a distinguished aviation industry executive and attorney with over 25 years of experience specializing in transportation, aviation law, and corporate governance. He currently serves as Partner at JTR Strategies, where he advises clients on complex regulatory matters and is a leader in the Aviation Investment Advisory Practice helping investors navigate industry transformation and opportunities across many sectors with a particular focus on transportation, infrastructure, hospitality, tech, and energy.
Previously, James served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at JetBlue Airways from 2001 to 2018. During his 17-year tenure, he played a pivotal role in the airline's expansion from 14 cities to over 100 destinations, overseeing Legal, Government and Airport Affairs, Sustainability, and Cybersecurity. His responsibilities also included oversight of Safety, Security, People, Audit, and Corporate Communications at various periods.
Before JetBlue, James honed his expertise at prestigious law firms, practicing aviation litigation at Condon & Forsyth and representing banks and lenders in aircraft finance transactions at Milbank Tweed. He brings particular depth in corporate public market transactions, aircraft financing, regulatory compliance, and board governance matters.
James maintains active board positions with Pallas Advisors, a strategic advisory firm specializing in national security; Airlink, where he is former Chairman and current board member; and The Bob Woodruff Foundation, where he serves as Governance Committee Chairman. His previous board leadership roles include Chairman positions JSX and the Marine Sanctuary Foundation.
James received his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School and his bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Boston University.
SUSAN KURLAND Senior Advisor
The Honorable Susan Kurland brings more than 25 years of executive leadership in transportation from the public and private sectors to JTR Strategies. Most recently, Susan was the Chief Air Service Development Officer for the City of Chicago’s Department of Aviation. During the Obama-Biden Administration Susan was the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs at the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, and during the Clinton Administration served as the Associate Administrator for Airports at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Susan also brings experience from the airline and investment banking industries. She served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at US Airways and was a Managing Director at Jefferies & Company, Inc.
GREG PRINCIPATO Senior Advisor
Greg Principato serves as a Senior Advisor at JTR Strategies, bringing more than four decades of experience working on aviation and transportation policy issues.
Before joining JTR Strategies, Greg served as the 32nd President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), retiring from this position in September 2023. NAA, founded as the Aero Club of America in 1905, stands as the oldest national aviation organization in the US. The association holds responsibility for certifying US aviation records and oversees many of aviation's major awards, including the Collier Trophy and the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy.
Prior to his role at NAA, Greg served as President and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) from 2014 to 2016. Additionally, he held the position of President of Airports Council International, North America (ACI-NA) from 2005 until 2013. In this role, he oversaw the leading association of airports and airport-related businesses in North America, representing the largest of the five worldwide regions of ACI.
Greg's extensive career includes service on the staffs of U.S. Senators J. Bennett Johnson and Joseph R. Biden, Jr., as well as with Virginia Governor Gerald L. Baliles, a national advocate for transportation infrastructure and the driving force behind the creation of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
Greg also served on bipartisan commissions that influenced the trajectory of US aviation. In 1993, he served as the Executive Director of the 15-member National Commission to Ensure a Competitive Airline Industry. This Clinton Administration commission examined ways to rejuvenate the aviation industry, addressing issues such as air traffic control reform, capacity enhancement, federal funding, international air service rights, and foreign investment. Greg was a key architect in shaping the Commission's recommendation that led to the passage of the General Aviation Revitalization Act, which revitalized the nation’s general aviation manufacturing sector. Additionally, Greg served on the Secure Borders and Open Doors Advisory Commission during the George W. Bush Administration, where he chaired the Ports of Entry Subcommittee.
STRATEGIC PARTNER
JOHN MURPHY President Federal Hill Group
In December 2024, Federal Hill Group became a strategic partner of JTR Strategies, further expanding each other's advocacy capabilities across the aisle. John Murphy founded Federal Hill Group in 2006, with over two decades of legislative and public policy advocacy experience at the Federal and State level with an emphasis on transportation and infrastructure, as well as energy, homeland security, and appropriations matters. He works on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, businesses operating in highly regulated industries—across the surface transportation and aviation spectrum—as well as local governments.
Prior to starting Federal Hill Group, John served as Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the American Trucking Associations (ATA), representing the trucking industry before the U.S. Congress and respective federal agencies.
Before coming to the ATA, John spent eight years on Capitol Hill as Deputy Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Bud Shuster (PA-9), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and as a Professional Staff member on the committee acting as the chairman's liaison to seventy-four committee members and six subcommittees.