David Schanzer

hen David Schanzer went to work as minority staff director for the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, he had no idea that the location of his office would be nearly as secret as the classified material the committee handles. Tucked away behind the Supreme Court in the Library of Congress's Adams Building, Schanzer's staff and their GOP counterparts down the hall go about their business far removed from the daily tumult of the House.

Schanzer said the remote location, although inconvenient, "in some ways helps promote cohesiveness between the staffs." And Schanzer is quick to praise his GOP colleagues. "We have an excellent working relationship," he said. "I've always thought that staff takes on the characteristics of their bosses, and over here we have two great leaders [Chairman Christopher Cox, R-Calif., and ranking member Jim Turner, D-Texas] who have sought out bipartisanship at every turn."

A graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School, Schanzer, 41, litigated civil cases at the Justice Department before going to work for Sens. William Cohen, R-Maine, and Joseph Biden, D-Del. He then spent two years as special assistant to the Defense Department general counsel before becoming legislative director for Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo., in 2000. Not long after Carnahan lost her seat in 2002, Schanzer got the call from Turner.

Schanzer echoes his boss in outlining goals for the year: establishing the panel as a permanent committee, overseeing the Homeland Security Department, and providing leadership for the Democratic Caucus on homeland-security issues. "I think we've got a great opportunity, but also a great responsibility, to provide our party with a crisp message and strong foundation-and everything I do is designed to help accomplish that goal.… I think we're primed to be very productive in the next six months."