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Victor F. Klatt, III

Vice President

For nearly 20 years, Victor “Vic” Klatt, III, has helped shape nearly every major education initiative in Washington—as a senior education official in the Executive Branch, as the top education staff member in the House of Representatives, and as founder of a groundbreaking education policy practice at Van Scoyoc Associates.

In 2008, Mr. Klatt rejoined Van Scoyoc as a Vice President after serving as GOP Staff Director for the House Education and Labor Committee since 2005.  He had responsibility for more than 50 people when Republicans were the majority party. He helped guide the Committee’s deliberations on a wide range of education, workforce, and social policy issues, including higher education, “No Child Left Behind,” pension reform, OSHA, Head Start, welfare reform, job training, civil rights, and mine safety issues, among many others.

Previously at Van Scoyoc Associates from 2000-2005, Mr. Klatt created one of the most significant education policy shops in Washington. As a result, VSA has represented some of the biggest names in education policy, from early childhood providers, to higher education institutions, non-profits, for-profits, specific issue specific coalitions, and large associations.

At the House Education and Workforce Committee, as it was then known, Mr. Klatt served for seven years in the 1990s as Education Policy Director. He coordinated the Committee’s work on all education and human resources issues within its jurisdiction and supervised 12 professional staff members.

Mr. Klatt first began specializing in education issues in 1989, when he joined the Administration of President George H.W. Bush and became Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Education. With Secretaries Lamar Alexander and Laura Cavazos, Mr. Klatt helped coordinate the legislative dimension of the first Bush Administration’s educational policy.

Shortly after coming to Washington in 1984 to work in various capacities for the Republican National Committee, Mr. Klatt managed the successful initial campaign of Michigan’s Rep. Fred Upton, Mr. Klatt’s hometown Congressman. He directed the campaign staff, implemented the election plan, and coordinated fund raising and advertising for one of only six campaigns to unseat an incumbent that year. Mr. Klatt then joined Rep. Upton’s staff, serving at various times as Deputy Staff Director and Press Secretary.

Mr. Klatt earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Kalamazoo College in Michigan.