University of Virginia School of Law

Williams College

University of Oxford

Woodberry Forest School

St. Christopher's School

Monument Advocacy

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Monument Advocacy (formerly Monument Policy Group) is a bipartisan firm focused on providing its clients with the best strategic advice on how to engage effectively in today’s challenging public policy environment. Our unique model combines issue expertise, political wisdom and an understanding of how the national and global environment affect a client’s objectives. This equation coupled with our experience allows us to evaluate the entire landscape. We then develop and execute tailored strategies for each client to achieve their goals.Our experience has been earned in the era of the Internet and social media, political division and brinksmanship, and globalization and diversity. You will not find MPG’s team waxing nostalgically about our role in Watergate or the Cold War. Both in and out of government, we have been at the center of the defining political moments of the modern age. Our challenges have been the nation’s challenges.We are a proud team of executives with meaningful political credentials and experiences that we rely upon to develop allies and obtain intelligence using a bipartisan approach. That expertise combined with our extensive history and unparalleled, multilayered thinking ensures that our clients are getting the very best team to execute their campaign.Monument was founded by Stewart Verdery in 2006.  Monument promises and delivers a team approach that utilizes all of creativity, relationships, and substantive expertise of all of our senior executives for clients. That “one Monument” approach has been our hallmark for clients, whether a Fortune 100 giant, a start-up, or a Washington trade association, as we provided cutting edge and bipartisan strategic advice and specialized public policy advocacy. POLICY SPECIALTIES: INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGYTAX, TRADE AND ECONOMIC POLICYSECURITY, TRAVEL AND IMMIGRATIONHEALTH CARE, FITNESS AND SPORTS

Monument Advocacy, LLC

CEO & Founder

The Project 2049 Institute, established in January 2008, seeks to guide decision makers toward a more secure Asia by the century’s mid-point. The organization fills a gap in the public policy realm through forward-looking, region-specific research on alternative security and policy solutions. Its interdisciplinary approach draws on rigorous analysis of socioeconomic, governance, military, environmental, technological and political trends, and input from key players in the region, with an eye toward educating the public and informing policy debate. The Project 2049 Institute also provides tailored studies for sponsors with an interest in long-range strategic forecasting. Institute staff are committed to carrying out research activities that meet both U.S. and Asian partner needs for policy change, and public and media engagement.

Project 2049

Board of Advisors

Served as part-time member of the CSIS Homeland Security Program, conducting research and providing commentary on a wide range of security-related topics.

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

Senior Associate, Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Program

Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti

Partner

Served as the first DHS Assistant Secretary for Border and Transportation Security (BTS), directing the BTS Office of Policy and Planning and advising BTS Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson and Secretary Tom Ridge on policies related to immigration and visa issuance, cargo and international commerce, international trade, transportation security, counternarcotics, and federal law enforcement training.  Was responsible for the creation, evaluation and advocacy of policies implemented on an operational level by the BTS agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, U. S. Customs and Border Protection, U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and US-VISIT. Coordinated BTS policy development with Secretary Ridge’s office and other DHS components such as Legislative Affairs, Public Affairs, and General Counsel, and with DHS agencies such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Coast Guard and the Secret Service. Frequently represented DHS in Congressional hearings and briefings before numerous Congressional committees, and also appeared as a witness in front of the European Parliament. Chaired numerous official government advisory committees and handled public appearances and interviews on DHS issues with domestic and foreign television, radio, and print press.

U..S. Department of Homeland Security

Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security

Lead Republican strategist in government affairs office representing Vivendi Universal Entertainment and Universal Music Group and responsible for lobbying of Congress and executive branch.  Responsibilities focused on technology, telecommunications, and intellectual property issues and effect of proposed legislation and regulations on Universal Studios, Universal Television Group’s cable network and production entities, and theme parks.  Also represented corporate parent Vivendi Universal’s other domestic businesses including publishers, videogame interests, and Internet ventures.  Primary liaison with relevant trade associations, including the Motion Picture Association of America and the Interactive Digital Software Association.  Established ad hoc working group of Republican content lobbyists.

Vivendi Universal

Senior Legislative Counsel

Designated by Republican leadership in 2001 through 2002 to serve as one of two leadership staff to develop and direct the activities of the U.S. Senate Republican High Tech Task Force, chaired by Senator George Allen.  Activities included advising the leadership on all technology issues and serving as the outreach arm of the Republican Caucus to the technology community.  Worked with Task Force Senators on legislation related to Internet privacy, Internet tax, copyright, telecommunications, tax, trade, technology deployment and other issues.

U.S. Senator George Allen

Director, Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force

Served as sole counsel for the leadership office of Senator Nickles and played leading role within Republican leadership on all judiciary and technology issues including: law enforcement; constitutional issues; nominations; e-commerce and Internet; patent and copyright; legal reform and antitrust; and campaign finance legislation.  Significant involvement in enactment or Senate passage of major legislation related to terrorism, bankruptcy, juvenile crime, Y2K, immigration, campaign finance, and appropriations,Advised Senator Nickles during Clinton impeachment and played significant role in development of impeachment trial procedures.  One of three Republican staff attorneys with Senate floor privileges to advise Senators and assist with conduct of impeachment trial.

U.S. Senate Assistant Majority Leader Don Nickles

General Counsel

Lead Counsel for Crime and Drug Policy Unit for the Committee, chaired by Senator Orrin Hatch, which handles crime control, law enforcement, and drug policy issues, and is responsible for oversight of the Department of Justice.  Organized hearings, conducted investigative research, and spearheaded enactment or Senate passage of measures related to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Department of Justice, drug policy, and international crime.  Also worked extensively on juvenile crime, victims’ rights, and encryption. Responsible for advising Chairman Hatch on matters related to Independent Counsel and campaign finance investigations.

U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

Counsel

Primary responsibility for handling Jenkins-Landrieu election contest concerning the 1996 Louisiana Senate race. Designed investigative strategy and supervised investigatory staff, drafted subpoenas and statements, questioned witnesses in Committee hearings, and advised and coordinated with Chairman Warner, Committee Members, Senate leadership, outside counsel, and media. Also responsible for designing Committee's campaign finance reform proposals and hearings.

U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

Legislative Counsel

Responsible for judiciary, small business, campaign finance, and other issues for Sen. Warner.

U.S. Senator John Warner

Concentrated in legislative and regulatory affairs, antitrust, and litigation.  Significant experience in matters before numerous federal agencies and work for political candidates and lobbying organizations.  Handled or assisted with litigation in numerous federal and state court cases involving professional sports, antitrust, libel, tax, personal injury, and contract matters.  Also worked as summer associate in 1992.  Hired as Special Counsel by the U.S. House Committee on House Oversight from February to December 1995 to handle legal aspects of three contested 1994 House elections.  Prepared committee reports adopted by House which resolved contests and altered burden needed to challenge elections.

C. Stewart Verdery, Jr.