Michael Short

Michael Short is a managing director at Penta, where he provides strategic communications counsel to clients based on his 15 years of high-level experience working at the crossroads of business, public policy, and politics. During his career, Michael has advised top political figures, senior government officials, and leaders of private industry.

Prior to joining Hamilton Place Strategies, Michael was Chief Communications Officer and Director of Public Affairs at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, where he served under two presidential administrations of both political parties. In his role, he led internal and external communications strategy on complex financial regulatory, enforcement, administrative, and customer education matters during the agency’s most robust rulemaking period since the implementation of Dodd-Frank.

Before working at the CFTC, Michael was head of media relations at the National Association of Manufacturers, the nation’s largest industrial trade association. In addition to providing strategic communications counsel to NAM’s CEO and member companies, Michael led communications strategy for numerous multimillion-dollar public affairs campaigns on tax, trade, energy, and financial regulatory issues.

Earlier in his career, Michael served as senior assistant press secretary at the White House, where he handled a portfolio consisting of national security and financial issues. He also served in several key positions at the Republican National Committee during two presidential election cycles as well as press secretary to U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Born and raised in Texas, Michael double-majored in political science and history at Texas Tech University. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife and son.