Ryan Welch is a Partner at FTP and was with the firm’s predecessor, Cauthen, Forbes & Williams.

He currently splits his time between the firm’s Washington, DC and Montgomery, Alabama offices. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Welch served on the staff of United States Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), current Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a member of the EPW, Banking, and Rules Committees.

From January 2002 to September 2007, Mr. Welch served as a Legislative Correspondent, Legislative Assistant, and Legislative Director for Senator Shelby. During Ryan’s time in the Senate, he covered a broad portfolio of issues, such as: agriculture, commerce, energy, environment, education, trade, waterways, law enforcement, homeland security, NASA, FEMA, transportation, science, and natural resources.

As a Legislative Assistant, Mr. Welch served as the primary staffer on all domestic appropriations issues, which required the evaluation of projects being considered for inclusion in Senator Shelby’s priority list.

Along those lines, Ryan brings unparalleled expertise in regards to issues related to the Appropriations Committee. He has also worked closely with both the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Senate leadership during the development of key energy legislation, including the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006.

Mr. Welch leads the Appropriations Practice at FTP. In addition to appropriations, Ryan works closely with clients across the issue spectrum at FTP, while focusing on financial services, energy, natural resources, technology, law enforcement, and homeland security.

Mr. Welch has been active in the Republican Party and various campaigns – at the state and national levels – since college. Since 2010, he has served as part of a leadership team of a highly successful volunteer-driven Get Out the Vote (GOTV) effort in the swing state of Ohio.

Ryan has also volunteered campaigns, including the successful U.S. Senate campaigns of Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) in 2004 and former Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) in 2006. In 2006, he also worked on GOTV efforts in Tennessee.

A longtime volunteer and member of the Planning Committee for the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs, Mr. Welch is a native of Wetumpka, Alabama – and a graduate of Auburn University, where he studied political science.

He lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his Black Lab, Duke.