I believe Eric Ciaramella is a GS-13 civil servant. Really, that’s nothing. I’ve know a lot of GS-12, GS-13, GS-14, and GS-15s. Nobody thinks a GS-13 is special.
The fact that this guy had influence and was in contact with Soros tells me that he’s not really a GS-13. That’s likely a cover. He’s more than that.
When I worked in Gov, the step from GS-12 to GS-13 was significant because it meant you were entering “the club”. It meant you demonstrated management skill and had the temperament and composure to represent the organization. If you got promoted to GS-13 you were likely to be a lifer. Basically it’s the entry level of the upper echelon.