Rachel Mackey is a Senior Associate with Paragon Government Relations working to advance the interests of clients’ federal policy interests in the health & human services, housing and veterans spaces. She is a seasoned government affairs professional with experience advocating for county government priorities in the areas of human services, education, and veterans and military services.

Prior to joining Paragon, she spent five years as the Legislative Director for Human Services and Education/Veterans and Military Services at the National Association of Counties (NACo), where she built strong relationships with key lawmakers, agencies, and the administration to influence pressing legislative and regulatory matters impacting county governments and worked directly with county leaders to develop and promote best practices for implementing federal policies at the local level. Rachel also led NACo’s work with the Local Government Legal Center to help shape the outcome of significant Supreme Court cases for county governments through persuasive and effective legal advocacy.

Rachel also has two years of experience as the Director of Policy and Research at First Focus, a bipartisan child advocacy organization, where she specialized in policy analysis and government relations related to federal budget and appropriations policy, child hunger and nutrition, and family tax policy. Rachel earned her Master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University and her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy from Duke University. 

Paragon Government Relations

220 I Street, NE

Suite 240

Washington, D.C.  20002

(516) 270-5034

rm@paragonlobbying.com