Leo Giacometto

Leo Giacometto is an American businessman, lobbyist, and former politician who served as a member of the Montana House of Representatives from From 1987 to 1990.

Leo Giacometto
Director of the Montana Department of Agriculture
In office
1993–1995
GovernorMarc Racicot
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
In office
1987–1990
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
Domestic partnerAurelia Skipwith (engaged)
EducationMontana Military Academy
Military service
Branch/service United States Army

Early life and education

Giacometto was raised on a farm in Alzada, Montana. He attended the Montana Military Academy and enlisted in the United States Army.[1]

Career

Giacometto served in the Army for 20 years, including as a SWAT Team member and in the Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism. At the age of 24, Giacometto was elected to the Montana House of Representatives, serving from 1987 to 1990. After leaving the legislature, Giacometto joined the United States Marshals Service, becoming the youngest U.S. marshal in history. Giacometto then served as Director of the Montana Department of Agriculture under Governor Marc Racicot.

From 1995 to 1999, Giacometto served as the chief of staff to U.S. Senator Conrad Burns.[2][3][4] He then worked as a lobbyist for Morrison–Knudsen. After the election of Judy Martz, Giacometto was nominated to serve on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.[5] During his time on the council, Giacometto was tried for fraud after filing a blank invoice to receive travel reimbursements for a business trip to Pendleton, Oregon. Giacometto was found not guilty.[6] In the early-2000s, Giacometto continued to work as a lobbyist before establishing his own firm in 2002. He is the founder of Gage LLC, a lobbying and consulting firm.[7][8] Through Gage LLC, Giacometto worked as the head lobbyist for the University of Montana.[9]

Giacometto, along with his fiancé Aurelia Skipwith, is a co-founder of AVC Global, an agricultural supply blockchain company.[10]

Personal life

Giacometto is engaged to Aurelia Skipwith, an attorney, biologist, and former lobbyist for Monsanto who serves as the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the Trump Administration. During her United States Senate confirmation process, Skipwith's relationship with Giacometto was scrutinized after it was revealed that she did not disclose her ties with Giacometto, a registered lobbyist on behalf of agricultural businesses.[11][12]

References
  1. "Mongolia Fund | Leo Giacometto". Mongolia Fund. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  2. "Congressional Directory for the 106th Congress (1999-2000), June 1999. -". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  3. Hossain, Farhana. "POLITICAL ACTION: THE DEFEATED; Where Are They Now?". query.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  4. "Tainted Ex-Senator Joins Lobbying Firm". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  5. Bureau, the Standard State. "Key players: Leo Giacometto". Montana Standard. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  6. Bureau, JENNIFER McKEE Gazette State. "Giacometto cleared in fraud case". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  7. "Leadership | Gage International Gage International". gage.cc. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  8. "Revolving Door: Leo A Giacometto Employment Summary | OpenSecrets". www.opensecrets.org. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  9. Bureau, JENNIFER McKEE Missoulian State. "UM no longer employs Giacometto as lobbyist". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  10. Nsehe, Mfonobong. "Riyada Group Partners AVC Global To Create An African Agricultural Supply Blockchain Company". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  11. "Nominee to Head Fish and Wildlife Service Fails to Disclose Lobbying Ties -". westernvaluesproject.org. 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  12. "Public Records Sought on Connection Between Trump Wildlife Agency Nominee, Montana Political Circles". www.biologicaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
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