Career
Christianna Barnhart has served as ESA’s Senior Vice President for Government Affairs since 2023. Christi previously held the role of Senior Counselfor the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, where her work focused on technology and telecommunications policy. In this capacity, her team advised the chair of the committee on telecommunications regulation, media policy, broadband deployment, content moderation, wireless connectivity and artificial intelligence.
Before her role on the committee, Christi was the Senior Technology and Telecommunications Counsel for U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), the then-ranking member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet. There, she focused on the technology and telecommunications portfolio.
Earlier in her career, Christi led telecommunications and technology regulatory policy as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Charter Communications, then held several leadership roles at the Federal Communications Commission. She began her career practicing intellectual property law in Washington, D.C.
Education
- B.A., James Madison University
- J.D. and M.B.A., American University
Volunteer
- James Madison University Alumni Association
- Cycle for Survival
- Local food pantry volunteer
