Ryan Diffley

Ryan is a senior manager, federal affairs with Troutman Strategies, where he draws on eight years of experience in the U.S. House of Representatives to help clients navigate the federal legislative and appropriations process. He advises higher education institutions, nonprofits, municipalities, and Fortune 500 companies on federal funding opportunities, policy strategy, and engagement with Congress and federal agencies.

Ryan has significant experience with the appropriations process, having supported clients in securing federal funding for institutional priorities. He guides clients through the full lifecycle of federal funding efforts — from identifying opportunities and shaping requests, to supporting advocacy before key committees and monitoring outcomes.

Before joining Troutman Strategies, Ryan served as a senior advisor to Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-4), where he was the congressman’s top advisor on policy and strategy for two of his Appropriations Subcommittees: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, and Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. In that role, he spearheaded the congressman’s rural broadband initiative, including securing federal grants and funding, and served as lead author for appropriations-related legislation, amendments, and briefing materials. His issue portfolio also included telecommunications, cybersecurity, transportation, infrastructure, homeland security, energy and water, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Guard.

Earlier in his career, Ryan led cybersecurity and health care policy initiatives for Congressman Tom Graves (GA-14), giving him a strong understanding of how emerging technology, security, and regulatory trends affect a wide range of stakeholders.