Stewart Verdery

'Charles Stewart Verdery Jr. (born 1967) is an American lobbyist and political professional who founded the government affairs and consulting firm Monument Policy Group in 2006, where he remains a partner. One of National Journals "Political Insiders”, Verdery is a sought-after public speaker and commentator on a wide range of public policy topics, including frequent appearances on networks such as Fox News and CNN. He is especially well-known for his work on technology and telecommunications, homeland security and law enforcement, international trade and commerce, and intellectual property issues.
Monument represents clients such as Microsoft, Eli Lilly, Starbucks, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and the U.S. Travel Association.

Verdery served as the first Assistant Secretary of Policy and Planning at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from 2003 to 2005, following his unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate. At DHS’s Border and Transportation Security Directorate he led efforts to develop and implement policies related to immigration, visas, and travel facilitation; cargo security and international trade; transportation security; and law enforcement. Verdery supervised policy development for agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration. He also worked extensively with foreign governments, including negotiation of the first treaty between the U.S. and European governments on airline passenger data issues, and appeared frequently as a witness in hearings before numerous congressional committees and as a public speaker on topics related to homeland security, travel facilitation, and international trade. Verdery also chaired official government advisory committees related to international trade and tourism and served on the President’s Advisory Committee to Protect Americans’ Civil Liberties.

Prior to his service at DHS, Verdery served as general counsel to Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.), Assistant Senate Majority Leader, from 1998 until 2002, where he handles issues such as the response to the September 11 attacks in 2001, the Clinton impeachment trial and other legal issues. Verdery also oversaw the creation and management of the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force. Verdery also served as counsel to Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on the Senate Judiciary Committee and directed the committee’s crime unit. In addition, while at the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration from 1996–1998, he worked for Chairman John Warner (R-Va.), investigating the contested Louisiana Senate election.

In addition to his government positions, Verdery has served as: a Principal at the government relations firm of Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti; the Senior Legislative Counsel for Vivendi Universal Entertainment, focusing on telecommunications and intellectual property issues; and an Associate at the Washington office of law firm Baker & Hostetler.

Verdery serves as an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a member of the Board of Advisors of the Project 2049 Institute. He has been a senior advisor to the Giuliani for President campaign, a member of the Independent Task Force on Immigration and America’s Future at the Migration Policy Institute, a member of the board of directors at Isonics Corporation, and a member of the advisory board of Packethop.

Verdery received his B.A. from Williams College in 1989, where he played college baseball, and his J.D. from the University of Virginia in 1993. He graduated from the Woodberry Forest School, where he served on the Board of Advisors from 2009-2011.