Ed Pagano

Appointed to the Board by Governor Peter Shumlin in March 2015 and re-eappointed by Governor Phil Scott in 2021. Term expires in March 2027. Born in Washington, DC. Educated at University of Vermont, BS, 1985; and Fordham University School of Law, JD, 1990. Ed is a partner at the law firm of Akin Gump after more than 20 years in public service. Named the "power forward of the U.S. Senate" by National Journal magazine, Ed served as Senate Liaison and Deputy Assistant to President Barack Obama for Legislative Affairs, White House, 2012-2014; Chief of Staff, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), 2005-2011; Senior Counsel, Senate Judiciary Committee, 1997-2004; and Legislative Counsel, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), 1993-1996. Landmark legislation he helped Senator Leahy enact into law includes the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act and the Violence Against Women Act. Ed was a varsity athlete on the Catamounts basketball team. He is married to Jennifer Backus and they have one son, Jack.