U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that her Staff Director on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Karen Billups, will retire at the end of calendar year 2015.

“Karen is a devoted public servant, and I have been truly fortunate to benefit from her wise judgment and policy expertise for so many years. First as my Chief Counsel, and most recently as my Staff Director, Karen has always been a close and trusted advisor. She has provided sound leadership and a strategic vision for our committee, and her substantive knowledge is surpassed only by the tremendous respect she has earned within Congress. I will certainly miss her, and wish her and her family the very best as she embarks on a well-deserved retirement.”

Billups first worked for the committee from 1995 to 2000, serving as Counsel, and then Senior Counsel, on energy issues and civilian and defense nuclear issues. She returned to the committee as Deputy Chief Counsel in 2003, and was promoted to Chief Counsel in 2008. Billups has served as Staff Director for the committee since January 2013. She has also spent time at the Department of Energy and in the private sector. Her husband, Ray, and son, Davis, are very excited by news of her retirement.

Murkowski also announced today that Colin Hayes will serve as her new Staff Director, and that Brian Hughes will serve as her new Deputy Staff Director.

Hayes began working at the committee in 2003. He has held a variety of positions, including Senior Professional Staff from 2007 through 2013. He has served as Deputy Staff Director since December 2014.

Hughes joined the committee in 2007 and has served as Senior Writer and Policy Advisor since January 2015. He has also worked as a speechwriter for former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, and as a speechwriter on the Romney-Ryan presidential campaign. He was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska.