Mark most recently served as Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Global Outreach at the White House. Pfeifle led the successful communication effort to promote the president’s “surge” of U.S. forces into Iraq and international communication initiatives to de-legitimize al Qaeda. From 2001 to 2004, as press secretary and later as Communications Director for Interior Secretary Gale Norton, Pfeifle created messages to pass energy and conservation legislation and the president’s Healthy Forest Initiative. In 2004, as director of communications for the 2004 Republican National Convention, Pfeifle was awarded the prestigious Pollie Award for Best Overall Internet Campaign and the Silver Award for best use of a website for persuasion.