One good thing about holding a senior position in government is you get a lot of free advice — which brings me to the choice Vice President Mike Pence is about to make when he chooses a new chief of staff.
The vice president should consider taking a different approach from what has become the norm in Washington. Specifically, he should neither elevate a staffer, nor appoint a political generalist or media handler. He should appoint a serious adult with experience in senior positions in government. The vice president's office is already known in Washington as "the pod of normalcy," based primarily on Pence's own sound judgment and calm demeanor.