Greg Haledjian is currently a Legal Advisor to the Operations and Emergency Management Division of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau at the FCC. Greg is a second-career attorney who has worked on tech policy issues in Washington, DC since 1991. As he notes below, he was able to leverage securing a provision in the Telecom Act of 1996 to determining that becoming a lawyer made sense and then into becoming a versatile, creative communications lawyer. Greg has a wide range of experiences, having represented clients in-house for a multi-billion-dollar company, worked at two local law firms, and advised university CIOs at a higher education IT association, all before joining the FCC in 2012. Since joining the FCC, Greg continues to enjoy variety; he is now serving in his fourth Bureau where he analyzes national security threats and authors FCC items that aim to protect critical infrastructure. Greg and I met up for a fun lunch and we ended up reminiscing a bit about the work we did quite a while ago for clients who were adverse in the 800 MHz reconfiguration process. It was a delight to spend some time with Greg.
Q. What attracted you to the field of communications?
A. My parents were a considerable influence in terms of me first seeing technology as a way to improve society and people’s lives. When I was in first grade, my mom got a job working for IBM in Manassas that exposed me to a culture where technology was the root of their business. My dad was a Sociology professor at NoVA in Annandale, and he was a member of the World Future Society. Of course, the biggest impact regarding technology was my dad taking me to see the original Star Wars at the Uptown Theater in Cleveland Park. When I was ten, he and a colleague hosted The Future Fair on campus, which was very well received. The best part was an amateur version of R2-D2 that stole the show. In addition, my dad and some fellow teachers devised a course called Patterns of Problem Solving. In an interview my dad said, “In teaching this class I’ll be taking examples from science fiction where the writer’s imagination has found new solutions to old problems.” This put me on a path towards the communications law and policy field where I help clients to solve their problems.
Q. Tell us about the various places you’ve worked through the years.
A. With 34 years of working in Washington, DC, there have been a lot of places and jobs. After graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in Political Philosophy, my first job was working on a U.S. Senate race in the Midwest where I quickly learned that politics is a dead end when your candidate loses. Accordingly, I shifted to policy work by paying my dues as a Capitol Hill intern. My first private sector job was with The Mobile Electronics Association handling legislative and press affairs where future U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) was the Chairman. I also worked for a Capitol Hill-based lobbying firm, The Keefe Company, where I represented the Alarm Industry Communications Committee in lobbying for the Telecom Act of 1992. Later, I moved to the American Public Communications Council (APCC) where, for six years, I coordinated legislative and regulatory affairs for the independent payphone industry. Once Section 276 became law as part of the Telecom Act of 1996 (Provision of Payphone Services), my boss suggested that I attend law school. So I did, as an evening student at Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law. I started my legal career at Irwin, Campbell & Tannenwald because of Adjunct Professor David Irwin, and then shifted to IDT Corporation’s DC office, working with Joe Sandri. Our notable outside counsel/consultants were Phil Verveer, Jean Kiddo, Harold W. Furchtgott-Roth, John Windhausen, and Steve Perry. I also represented 800 MHz rebanding public safety clients while at Shulman Rogers law firm and then I managed telecom policy matters for EDUCAUSE before joining the FCC in 2012.
I started in the WCB’s Pricing Policy Division and then pursued telecom investigations in EB before joining the CGB Front Office supporting the Deputy Chief leading outreach efforts and serving as the Deputy Designated Federal Officer for the Consumer Advisor Committee. After five years in CGG, Michael Connelly pulled me into the Operations and Emergency Management Division of PSHSB in April 2023. Since I have a security clearance, I started protecting critical infrastructure and supporting my colleagues who are deployed at major events and for disaster response. My latest major project was writing the Covered List sections of the recently adopted Submarine Cable Licensing R&O and Further Notice.
Q. Have things unfolded in your career more or less the way you planned?
A. Of course, the answer is “no” and “yes.” Once I made the decision to work in the policy field while focusing on technology, I believed that I was doing reasonably well representing clients in a lobbying firm and in two industry associations. At that point in my career, I did not expect to go to law school. But after achieving the goal of legislation for APCC and effectively working myself out of the position I had at APCC, it made sense for me to go to law school – in the evening – so I could continue to work on securing favorable payphone regulations at the FCC. I often joke that I took eight “gap years” between undergrad and law school. I am exceedingly thankful that Professor Harvey Zuckman approved my application to join the Institute for Communications Law Studies. My specialization in studying communications law and my internships with FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani and with Kathleen Wallman allowed me to leverage my prior legislative experience. I also benefited from Bryan Tramont’s wisdom and mentorship which were instructive and valuable for a new lawyer.
Q. What’s the most interesting or challenging thing that you’ve done in your current position?
A. Receiving my security clearance has opened new subject matter areas for me that I never expected to experience. We have a well-appointed Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility or SCIF that my division operates, and it has been an honor to collaborate with our Federal partners and to receive briefings that allow me to do a better job in projecting our critical infrastructure. In addition, I have attended policy meetings at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building within the White House compound, and it has been humbling to attend meetings amongst such incredible landmarks of American history.
Q. Is or was there something interesting or someone who surprised or impressed you during your career and why?
A. There are two individuals who stand out the most in terms of both their incredible effectiveness in getting things done in Washington, DC and their bountiful kindness. It was a joy to work with each of them early in my career. I encountered Terry O’Connell at the lobbying firm. He was a Vietnam-era war hero whose combat actions resulted in the award of the Distinguished Service Cross, three Purple Hearts, and the Bronze Star with “V” Device, Air Medal with “15” Device, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. Despite suffering incredibly debilitating wounds during his military service, Terry was the most engaging person whom I ever met, and he always had a smile on his face.
And I learned a great deal from Al Kramer, who was such a strong advocate for the underdog independent payphone industry. I remember being in awe as I watched Al conduct 360-degree analysis of complicated legal and policy questions and provide brilliant answers to tough questions in a matter of seconds.
Q. What do you enjoy reading?
A. My favorite topics to read about are found in music and sports. I am reading Bono’s Surrender, which is very interesting as U2 was a mainstay in my younger years. I started following Liverpool Football Club (LFC) in 2013 when NBC took over airing the English Premier League matches. I follow a Liverpool-based analyst, Josh Williams, and I love his magnificent book titled, Data Game: The Story of Liverpool FC’s Analytics Revolution. The club’s American owners, Fenway Sports Group, have pioneered using data to evaluate both players and player performance. I am still buzzing a bit since LFC won their 20th league title in May. But the devastating loss of Diogo Jota and his brother quickly brought me back down to Earth.
Q. Is there something (a hobby or other tidbit) people don’t know about you that you are willing to share?
A. I took great pleasure in announcing my son’s high school soccer and lacrosse matches and my son and daughter’s swim meets when they were younger. It was exciting to be a significant part of the community in these roles. This was an unexpected but definitely a gratifying talent that I am slowly exploring. I am thinking in the future, I would love to narrate audio books and/or perform voiceovers.
Q. Can you share your perspective on the pitfalls to avoid or other career advice for those who are just getting started in the communications field?
A. Find balance between the functionality of your work and the subject areas that you focus on. I view the practice of law as three top-level functions: litigation, transactions, and policy. At the peak of your career, you will most likely be focused on practicing in just one of these functional areas and that is OK. My take is that clients are willing to pay for expertise, so the more experienced you are, the more options you may have. In terms of subject areas, try to pursue what most interests you so your curiosity and passion are rewarded. Finally, it pays to build your professional network with time and care, especially with FCBA members and on LinkedIn.
Q. How has your life changed as a result of COVID-19 and what are you looking forward to doing next?
A. At first, I was able to perfect my video binge-watching skills. The pandemic also reminded me how much I love being in nature. I enjoy playing “old man” pickup soccer, hiking, hanging out at the beach, and attending outdoor concerts. Inspired by my girlfriend, I started playing golf a few years ago, which is a new obsession. In June, I played in the 29th Annual FCBA Foundation Robert Emmet Lee Memorial Golf Tournament and I had a blast despite Westfields being the most difficult course that I have played. Last year, I even convinced Lee Petro to play nine holes with me and a friend, but I rapidly determined that I wasn’t quite ready for the big time. Obviously, my golf game is a work in progress!
Q. How long have you been an FCBA member, and what to you is the value of FCBA membership?
A. I proudly joined the FCBA in 1998 during my first year of law school and I immediately felt welcome. I also noticed how many CUA Law alumni were FCBA members, and it made networking that much easier. I served as a Co-Chair for the FCBA’s Wireline Committee for 2013-2014, which was a fantastic experience. The FCBA offers so many wonderful opportunities to learn about new subjects, meet fellow practitioners, and give back to the community. I always look forward to the FCBA Annual Dinner, AKA the “Telecom Prom,” since it is such an entertaining night (as the year is ending) to celebrate together the year that was and to look forward to the year to come. Earlier in the day, the joint FCBA-PLI Institute on Telecommunications Policy & Regulation is a “can’t miss” opportunity to further your communications law knowledge. I truly believe that ongoing FCBA membership and participation in events and programing provides a bedrock foundation for every happy communications lawyer.