Kristal Quaker Hartsfield
Areas of Expertise: Government Affairs, Finance/Financial Oversight, Public and Private Partnerships, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Planning, and Communications
Kristal Hartsfield is an award-winning political strategist, seasoned government affairs and policy expert, and highly sought-after leader with more than two decades of experience spanning corporate, nonprofit, and all levels of government. Her decade-long tenure on Capitol Hill focused on energy, technology, banking, U.S. economic policy and affordable housing, healthcare, and trade. She has served in several senior roles, including Senior Legislative and Policy Advisor to two Members of the U.S. Congress, Director of the U.S. House of Representatives Republican Policy Committee, Senior Professional Staff for the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, National Strategic Initiatives Director at the Republican National Committee, and Senior Advisor to a former U.S. Secretary of State.
Internationally, Kristal has represented the United States and led delegations to more than 35 nations across Africa, Asia, and Europe. She has delivered guest lectures on policy and politics at institutions including the United Nations, the University of Ghana (Accra, West Africa), Qatar University (Doha, Qatar), and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, among others.
Locally, Kristal serves on the boards of Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia and Global Citizens Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.—one of only two Mandarin language immersion public charter schools in the city offering both Mandarin and Spanish starting in Pre-K3.
In the political arena, Kristal has designed and implemented successful strategies for presidential, gubernatorial, and congressional campaigns nationwide, demonstrating her deep understanding of national electoral dynamics and local community issues. Originally from Atmore, Alabama, she has received numerous accolades, including recognition in The National Journal as a “Top Influential Woman in Washington,” as a “Rising Star” by Campaigns & Elections Magazine, and among Politico’s “Top 40 Under 40 Most Influential People on Capitol Hill.”
Kristal holds dual B.A. degrees in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she was later named the 2014 Distinguished Alumni of the Year and served as a National Brand Ambassador. She also earned a Master of Public Administration from Troy University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Kristal resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband, children, and their 10-year-old English Bulldog, Mr. Bentley. In her free time, she enjoys golfing, traveling internationally, teaching personal finance, and investing in the stock market.
