C. Stewart Verdery, Jr.

C. Stewart Verdery, Jr. is the founder and former CEO of Monument Advocacy, a prominent bipartisan government relations and public affairs firm based in Washington, D.C.1 He founded the company in 2006 and has since built it into one of Washington's leading boutique advocacy firms.1

Career Highlights

Government Service:: Verdery has extensive experience in high-ranking government positions. He served as the first Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate.3 In this role, he oversaw agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration, and led efforts on immigration, travel facilitation, cargo security, and transportation security.3

Private Sector:: Prior to founding Monument Advocacy, Verdery worked as:

• Senior Legislative Counsel for Vivendi Universal, representing their entertainment and music group interests1
• Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, specializing in homeland security and counterterrorism2
• Partner at Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti2

Education

Verdery holds a Bachelor's degree in History & Political Science from Williams College (1989) and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Virginia School of Law (1993).2

Recent Developments

In 2024, Verdery transitioned from his role as CEO of Monument Advocacy to focus on business development, long-term strategic planning, and client engagement.4 John Murray has taken over as the new CEO, while Verdery continues to co-lead the firm's newly formed senior leadership team.4

Recognition

Verdery is recognized as an influential figure in tech and telecom policy by Washingtonian magazine and frequently appears on prominent media outlets as a commentator.3 He is known for his expertise in areas such as innovation and technology, tax and trade policy, security and immigration, and healthcare.1