Ian Spatz brings to Rock Creek Policy Group more than two decades of highly successful public policy and public affairs experience in the corporate, not-for-profit and government sectors.

For the past 15 years, Ian served in increasingly responsible positions with Merck & Co., Inc., one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and vaccine companies. As Merck's Vice President for Global Health Policy, Ian directed U.S. public policy and related public affairs activities and represented the company before Congress, the Administration, and to the media. He also directed grassroots, employee communications and political action programs.

While at Merck, Ian led the successful five-year campaign which helped to develop and gain enactment of the Medicare prescription drug benefit, providing millions of American elderly and persons with disabilities with drug insurance for the first time. He promoted legislation to create the highly successful program of market exclusivity incentives for research on the pediatric uses of medicines and guided company efforts that resulted in resolution of international trade dispute on the licensing of medicines in the developing world.

Before joining Merck, Ian served as Legislative Director for U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). In that role, Ian directed the Senator's legislative staff including developing and supervising the implementation of legislative strategies, proposal drafting, and floor action. During his tenure, Ian coordinated the successful development and passage of two transportation appropriations bills.

Ian began his career in the nonprofit sector where he led the public policy and government affairs activities of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the nation's leading heritage conservation organization. While with the National Trust, Ian conceived the highly successful Eleven Most Endangered Historic Places list that has served as a model public relations tool for many conservation organizations. He advocated successfully for the creation of the transportation enhancements funding in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Act (ISTEA) that has resulted in more than $8 billion in spending on conservation projects.

Ian has a law degree from the New York University School of Law and is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia. He also earned a graduate degree in Public Affairs from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He is a graduate of Brandeis University.