Hunter Kirkland
Communications Director
Rep. Austin Scott (GA-08)
whose unusual talent is turkey calling?
Hunter started his D.C. journey with former Rep. Rob Woodall as a college sophomore in 2019, then interned for Whip Scalise in 2020. In 2021 he graduated with a political science and economics degree, no job, and a bouncing gig in Statesboro, Georgia. That's when he decided it was time to head back to D.C.
So he started calling up the people he'd met during his previous internships. One of those calls turned into a staff assistant job in Rep. Buddy Carter's office, and, in his words, "the rest is history."
Five years later, he's running a comms shop for his home state:
- 🦃 Hunting & turkey calling
- 🏈 Sports cards
- 🥃 Bourbon, neat
- 🍣 Sushi: If he could do anything in the world, he'd be a Michelin-starred sushi chef.
- 🔥 Hot take: The 2018 Clemson team is the GOAT.
Ask Hunter about the hardest part of the job, and he doesn't say the hours or the news cycle. He says confidence.
Staffers who've had a big title bump know the impending doom of imposter syndrome all too well. Hunter powers through by being easy to work with, asking questions, and knowing practical skills.
His practical tip for comms staffers: learn the Adobe suite. "The world is rapidly moving to digital… Plus, it translates well off the Hill."
In a town of short kings, Hunter stands out — in height and personality. His naturally kind, social demeanor makes him an easy friend and a great coworker. But beyond personality, there's some practicality too:
That friendliness extends beyond the office and into how he builds cross-party relationships.
🟣 Across the aisle: "Shared experience and, as corny as it is, the love for our country. Be genuine about what you want to do and honest about how you communicate it, and you'll have a lot of red and blue friends."
Hunter starts his mornings at the gym. "I love getting to work feeling like I have already done a lot in the day." That way, when the day gets hijacked by 9:15, at least the morning already counted.
He ends his week in the woods. "There's little that excites me more than getting up for a hunt Saturday after a long work week." It's a fitting reset for a man whose job is communicating all day. Long term, he'd love to stay in comms, but conservation or sports might be in the cards someday.
Coffee Spot: Tatte ("Basic, I know, but I like their pistachio stuff")
Bar: O'Connell's in Old Town
Happy Hour: Talay Thai
Lunch Spot: Tune Inn
TV Show: Game of Thrones
Movies: The Departed & The Empire Strikes Back
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- John Adams by David McCullough
- The Red Rising series by Pierce Brown
His favorite spot is a secret, and he's gatekeeping it on purpose. His one hint: "the tarpon capital of the world." Italy and Japan are on the bucket list for food and history.
The professional one:
The one from his dad, when Hunter left for college: "Don't be a dumba**." Hunter says it's crazy how well it applies to all different aspects of life.