Michael O Rielly was nominated for a seat on the Federal Communications Commission by President Barack Obama on August 1 2013 and was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate on October 29 2013 He was sworn into office on November 4 2013 Prior to joining the agency Commissioner O Rielly served as a Policy Advisor in the Office of the Senate Republican Whip led by U S Senator John Cornyn since January 2013 He worked in the Republican Whip s Office since 2010 as an Advisor from 2010 to 2012 and Deputy Chief of Staff and Policy Director from 2012 to 2013 for U S Senator Jon Kyl He previously worked for the Republican Policy Committee in the U S Senate as a Policy Analyst for Banking Technology Transportation Trade and Commerce issues from 2009 to 2010 Prior to this Commissioner O Rielly worked in the Office of U S Senator John Sununu as Legislative Director from 2007 to 2009 and Senior Legislative Assistant from 2003 to 2007 Before his tenure as a Senate staffer he served as a Professional Staff Member on the Committee on Energy and Commerce in the United States House of Representatives from 1998 to 2003 and Telecommunications Policy Analyst from 1995 to 1998 He began his career as a Legislative Assistant to U S Congressman Tom Bliley from 1994 to 1995 Commissioner O Rielly received his B A from the University of Rochester