Rubio Names Former Cheney Aide Chief of Staff

Sen. Marco Rubio (pictured), R-Fla., has chosen his chief of staff — Cesar Conda, a former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney and an economic adviser to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign, Politico reports.

Conda served as a top aide on Rubio’s Senate campaign and on the official transition team. He previously worked as an assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney on domestic policy, and as a top aide for former Sen. Spencer Abraham, R-Mich.

Rubio received a slew of applications to work for the rising conservative star. In early January, Rubio announced his picks for senior staff after receiving more than 1,000 applications for 54 jobs in the office. But Rubio waited to choose his top staffer until this week.