Alfonso Costa More about Alfonso Costa Alfonso Costa Jr. currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary Ben Carson at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In his role, Mr. Costa is responsible for advising the Secretary and overseeing all policy carried out by the Department. This includes actions being taken through the newly-established White House Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing, chaired by Secretary Carson. The purpose of this Council is to assess and eliminate existing regulations that unnecessarily raise the costs of housing development, while simultaneously identifying State and local laws and barriers that likewise stifle housing supply (and the successful practices being implemented across the country to reduce and remove these barriers). Mr. Costa also represents and leads HUD on the Federal government's Opportunity Zone Council ("White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council"), also chaired by Secretary Carson. The Opportunity Zone Council focuses on inter-agency collaboration, targeting of existing resources and programs, and external stakeholder engagement. Prior to joining HUD, Mr. Costa served as Vice President of Acquisitions for a real estate investment & development firm, Director of Policy for the U.S.A. First Political Action Committee, as well as a Teach For America (TFA) corps member. Mr. Costa earned his juris doctor from Harvard Law School, master's degree from the University of Oxford, and bachelor's degree from Yale University. In his personal capacity, Mr. Costa serves as a Public Sector Fellow for the Harvard Alumni Real Estate Board, Emerging Leaders Council Member (and alumnus) for New Heights Youth NYC, and Member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI).