Beverly Gilyard is the Vice President of Federal Strategy for AARP. In this role she leads a team of staff focused on developing strong relationships with Members of Congress and the Executive Branch in support of AARP’s social impact agenda. She works with Federal issue teams on lobbying efforts and legislative strategies. She also collaborates with AARP’s Integrated Campaigns Unit and its 53 States offices to implement AARP’s grassroots strategies, including coordinated state activities and D.C.-based political events on priority issue campaigns. She also serves as the liaison to external organizations affiliated with Members of Congress.

Prior to joining AARP, Ms. Gilyard served for eight years as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Director of Member Services. On behalf of the Committee, she served as a liaison to 200 plus members of the United States House of Representatives’ Democratic Caucus. She managed the day to day operations of the Member Services Department and provided fundraising, political and legal assistance to the campaigns of the members.

Before the DCCC, Ms. Gilyard was a campaign manager and a field coordinator in South Carolina, Louisiana, and New Jersey campaigns. She was successful as part of the effort to re-elect United States Senator Mary Landrieu and Congressman Rodney Alexander in Louisiana. She was also victorious in managing the re-election of State Senator Nia H. Gill in New Jersey, a race that was voted by PoliticsNJ as the 3rd best run campaign in the state for that year.

Prior to her stint in the political campaigns arena, Ms. Gilyard worked on Capitol Hill where she served for over five years as the Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Rep. Sanford Bishop from Georgia and for three years as a legislative policy advisor to House Democratic Whip, Steny Hoyer, from Maryland. In these positions, she authored legislation, secured millions in appropriations for district/state projects, developed and implemented legislative strategies, managed staff and special projects, and wrote and edited speeches and press materials.

She earned her J.D. in 1993 from Pepperdine University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in 1990 in the dual majors of Political Science and Law & Society from American University. She currently resides in Reston, Virginia.