Nelson Peacock

Nelson Peacock brings two decades of legislative and executive branch experience to his position at Cornerstone. Most recently, Nelson served as the Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs for the Department of Homeland Security. Appointed by President Obama, Nelson coordinated the legislative activity for the 240,000 person, $60 billion Department. In doing so, Nelson worked closely with the 100-plus Congressional committees of jurisdiction that have oversight responsibilities for the Department. Over the course of five years, Mr. Peacock prepared Secretary Napolitano for more than 50 Congressional hearings and managed a legislative team that conducted over 600 hearings and 3,000 briefings on issues related to cyber security, natural disasters, immigration and national security. Prior to his appointment, Nelson served on the transition team for the incoming Administration. There, he assisted in a top-to-bottom review of the Department of Homeland Security and assisted in the confirmation process for the Secretary of Homeland Security. Nelson also served as the Senior Counsel for then-Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the Senate Judiciary Committee. For five years, Nelson advised the Senator on homeland security, crime and intellectual property issues. Nelson played a key role in developing and passing into law the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008, signed by President Bush on October 13, 2008. In 1998, Nelson was appointed by President Clinton to serve as the Deputy Director for Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Justice. A veteran of several national political campaigns, Nelson was also a key member of General Wesley Clark’s 2004 presidential campaign. Nelson was born and raised in the state of Arkansas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor from University of Arkansas and a Masters of Law from George Washington University School of Law.