Eric Dell -  Former Guest Speaker at the Leadership Institute

Eric Dell serves as the Chief of Staff and Counsel to Congressman Joe Wilson.  After previous service from 2001 to 2006, Dell returned to serve in this capacity in November 2008.  Dell leads a congressional team, which includes three office locations: Washington, DC; Columbia, SC; and Beaufort, SC.  During this service, Dell has developed and implemented a strategy for promoting policy and political changes relevant to the goals of Congressman Wilson.  During his brief leave of absence from his current position, Eric served as Vice President of The Keelen Group, a lobbying firm in Washington, DC.  Dell’s career has focused on political, government and legal service.

Dell began his political career at the age of 14.  During his college tenure, Dell was a volunteer on many political campaigns and served in the student government as a college senator, student body treasurer and first year law school representative.  Dell held the position of scheduler for the Tommy Hartnett for Governor Campaign in 1994, deputy campaign manager for Congressman Floyd Spence in 1998, campaign manager for Spence in 2000 and Wilson in 2001.  Dell has traveled to over 60 congressional districts and 15 states in a volunteer capacity for political campaigns.

Dell’s government career began with internships for the late United States Senator Strom Thurmond, the late Governor Carroll Campbell, Governor David Beasley, State Senator Joe Wilson and State Senator Greg Ryberg.  He continued this service in the state senate as the Chief of Staff to the South Carolina State Senate Transportation Committee under Chairman Joe Wilson.

Dell’s legal career spanned for three years as a law clerk to the late Judge Marc Westbrook and an associate at the law firm of Wilson, Taylor, Moore & Thomas in West Columbia, SC, where he practiced real estate law.  He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from The University of South Carolina and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Dell has served as an international election observer and speaker in Macedonia, Liberia and Lithuania and has traveled to over 18 foreign countries on Congressional Staff Delegations.  He is a frequent guest lecturer at the Leadership Institute and the American League of Lobbyists.  A native of Ridgeland, SC and graduate of Thomas Heyward Academy, Dell resides in Washington, DC, with his wife Torry.  

Eric Dell