By: Katie Lynch, 2023-24 CKI vice president
Jose Leoncio’s passion for service began in 2012, and it’s taken him to the U.S. Capitol and beyond. The Key Club alumnus joined CKI and served as the Capital District Conventions and Conferences chair, the Capital District governor and an international trustee. He graduated from American University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in international relations and affairs.
Since 2021, Leoncio has been working in public service in Washington, D.C. Working for a U.S. senator and for a Senate committee as a legislative correspondent, he handled a wide array of issues such as environment, energy, agriculture, animals and much more. His favorite responsibility was writing vote recommendations and hearing questions for the senator.
Recently, Leoncio transferred to the U.S. Department of Commerce as a political appointee, working as a special assistant in the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. In this role, he uses his Capitol Hill experience to assist staff in advancing the department’s legislative priorities. He drafts memos, publishes a biweekly newsletter to congressional colleagues, supports intergovernmental affairs work and more.
Throughout his professional career, he has used many skills he learned from his experience in the Kiwanis family. From project management to preparing for meetings, Leoncio says that much of the work he does now feels familiar from his days in Key Club and CKI. One familiar skill: reading and interpreting bylaws and understanding much of the policy that impacts the department.
CKI members who want to pursue a career in public service, Leoncio says, must know the importance of forming meaningful relationships
“Your network will help you by connecting you to the right places, giving you sound advice, and vouching for your experience and character to potential employers,” he says.
Do you want to learn how to connect with alumni like Jose Leoncio and other former members of CKI? Join the CKI Alumni Network!