During the Clinton years, Pappas was associate chief of the FCC's international bureau, developing international telecommunications policy on a broad range of issues, including satellite regulation and licensing, international spectrum management, and third generation wireless standards and licensing, according to a bio. He also served as the State Department's director of communications for economic affairs and at one point was assistant White House counsel.

In September 2000, the Georgetown Law School graduate joined Pappas Telecasting -- which at the time was the largest privately-held, commercial television broadcast group in the United States -- where he served as executive vice president for legal and governmental affairs. He was responsible for overseeing all federal government and federal agency regulatory affairs of the company, including the supervision of all filings before the FCC and other agencies.

In related PTO personnel news, Jefferson Taylor, director of congressional relations, has moved on and a permanent replacement has not been named.