Who We Are

Paddock & Associates is a nonpartisan Government relations firm based in Washington, DC. Founded in 2023 by President Steve Ham, Paddock & Associates (P&A) brings 20 years of Capitol Hill and Executive branch experience to our clients. Paddock & Associates provides small and mid-sized companies with specialized consulting services to navigate the complex Federal funding and acquisition landscape for the Department of Defense, the Veterans Affairs Administration, the defense industry, and small business interests.

P&A leverages our expertise and connections within the Department of Defense and the Federal Government to ensure each client receives visibility as a resource and subject matter expert on a specific issue. P&A crafts and executes agile, tailor-made government relations strategies that will expand the client's business footprint within the Federal government sector, driving revenue and growth for the client.

About Our Founder

Steve Ham is President & Founder of Paddock & Associates. Before founding Paddock & Associates, Steve served as the Senior Defense Policy Advisor to Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he handled defense issues related to Maryland’s Defense Industrial Base and Foreign Military Sales. Steve also managed the Military Fellow program, providing guidance, mentoring, and oversight for professional development to Uniformed Personnel.  While serving for Senator Cardin, Steve concurrently held a Professional Staff Member position on the Senate Small Business Committee.  Through SBIR-STTR oversight and reauthorization, he focused on small business contracting and acquisitions policy and innovation.  

He also served as a Presidential Appointee to the Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, & Technology-ASA(ALT). In this role, he advised the ASA(ALT) on developing and managing priorities, particularly matters implicating significant Administration priorities. He also was a primary liaison with the Office of Chief Legislative Liaison between Congress and senior Army and DOD officials regarding acquisition matters. 

Steve also spent 8 years as Democratic Majority Leader, Rep. Steny Hoyer’s top military staffer. He worked closely with the House Armed Services Committee and House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee on policy and funding initiatives supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Responsible for all Defense issues, he facilitated University partnerships and manufacturing contract opportunities with the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Special Operations Command.