Prior to joining the AGA, Hale served as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.). He also worked as a legislative assistant in the office of U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) from 1997 to 2000, managing technology issues, including the Microsoft anti-trust case, gaming, aviation, surface transportation and professional sports.

Hale's extensive Capitol Hill experience began in 1993, where he worked in the office of U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Since then, he has worked with organizations including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Friends for Slade Gorton, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, Friends for Jack Metcalf and the Washington State Republican Party. Most recently, Hale volunteered for Bush for President in November 2000, participating in the presidential election ballot recount in Broward County, Fla.

Hale received a bachelor of arts degree from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky. He also studied at the Kentucky Institute for International Studies in Munich, Germany.