J. Keith Kennedy is chair of the Firm's Federal Public Policy Group and the Managing Director of the Washington, D.C., office. He joined the Firm in September 2006 after 28 years of service in the United States Senate.
Mr. Kennedy most recently served as the majority staff director of the Committee on Appropriations from January 2005 to September 2006, under the chairmanship of Senator Thad Cochran. Mr. Kennedy held the position on two previous occasions, from 1981 to 1987 and 1995 to 1997, under the chairmanship of Senator Mark Hatfield, and is the only person in the history of the Committee to have held the position three times. From 1987 to 1995, he served as the minority staff director of the Committee for Senator Hatfield.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations is the largest committee in the Senate. Its twelve subcommittees have jurisdiction over more than a trillion dollars of annual federal spending. The appropriations bills written by the Committee each year influence every activity the federal government undertakes, and constitute the only legislation that the Congress must pass every year.
Prior to his service on the Appropriations Committee, Mr. Kennedy served as the Deputy Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate from April 2003 to January 2005. In that position, he was the chief operating officer of the Senate's largest organization, with over 800 employees and an annual budget exceeding $200 million. In addition to providing security for Senators, their staffs, and the million annual visitors to the Capitol, the Sergeant at Arms procures and provides all information technology and telecommunications equipment and service for the Senate, both in Washington and in the 400-plus state offices of Senators.
Mr. Kennedy was previously a member of the Firm from January 1997 until April 2003, holding the positions of senior public policy advisor and co-chair of the public policy group. His current clients include major corporations and associations, whom he advises on the intricacies of the federal legislative process, especially as it pertains to budget and appropriations matters.
- Member – Executive Committee, Duke University Annual Fund, 2007 – present
- Fellow – Stennis Fellows Congressional Staff Program, Inaugural Class 1993 – 1994
- Member – Board of Visitors for Duke University Divinity School, 1998 – 2004
- Adjunct Professor – Georgetown University graduate school of public policy, 1994 – 1996
- Duke University, Master of Divinity, 1974
- Duke University, B.A., 1970