Defense/Technologies and Homeland Security

The primary obligation of the Federal government is to protect United States citizens from harm. The national defense, defense technologies and homeland security arena encompass the largest portion of the federal discretionary budget.  These areas involve vast programs that are in constant review and need advocacy in the executive and legislative branches of the government.  Issues involving procurement, budget execution, and industrial policy provide concerns to many companies and institutions.

The Livingston Group (TLG) has policy expertise in all security issue areas, from program and budget formulation to industrial base and procurement policy and reform.  TLG's access to defense policy makers and those responsible for the budget in Congress and the executive branch is one of our strongest attributes.  We have a range of current clients, both major corporations and small businesses, who are actively working with the presidential administration and on Capitol Hill.  In addition to Bob Livingston’s (R-LA) unmatched networks in the area of defense-related appropriations, TLG has a number of professionals with substantive knowledge and invaluable political expertise in the defense/technologies and homeland security arena

Lead Partners

Honorable Robert L. Livingston - is a former Republican Member of Congress from Louisiana.  He served as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, shepherding the thirteen appropriations bills through the legislative process.  He also served for the maximum period of six years on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.  A U.S. Navy veteran, Mr. Livingston served on active duty with the Navy as an enlisted man from 1961 to 1963, and received an honorable discharge from the Navy Reserve in 1967.  As a Founding Partner of The Livingston Group, Mr. Livingston has provided strategic counsel and direct advocacy for each of the firm’s defense and homeland security clients.

Director

Richard L. Rodgers - served more than 28 years as a naval officer with multiple operational tours and commands and in the Pentagon as Deputy Executive Secretary to the Secretary of Defense.  He also served as the Department of the Navy's liaison with the House and Senate Appropriations committees.
(info@livingstongroupdc.com)

Team

Honorable Tim Hugo - served as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs during the administration of President George H.W. Bush.  A veteran of Capitol Hill, Mr. Hugo was Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  He currently holds the position of President of CapNet, a trade association representing high tech companies, and is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Honorable William H. Zeliff, Jr. - is a former Republican Member of Congress from New Hampshire and House Deputy Whip. Mr. Zeliff served as Chairman on the National Security, International Affairs and Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee, and was a member of the Transportation and Small Business committees.

Paul Cambon - is a founding Partner of The Livingston Group. He was Legislative Director for Congressman Livingston (R-LA), and is a former congressional staffer for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

Jason Chung - served at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency within the Department of Homeland Security. As a congressional liaison at CBP, his portfolio included the following responsibilities: border security initiatives, immigration reform policy, and cargo security programs. Mr. Chung served in the administration of Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. (R-MD); for Congressman Thomas M. Davis, III (R-VA); and on the subcommittee staff of Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT), working on issues regarding terrorism and homeland defense.

Carl D. Commenator - is a former Deputy Staff Director for the House Armed Services Committee, as well as a former Chief Counsel and Staff Director of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.  Mr. Commenator has a total of twenty-three years of experience on Capitol Hill.  He served four years on active duty with the U.S. Air Force, including one tour in the Republic of South Vietnam.

Terence Costello - is a former Republican professional staffer with the House Armed Services Committee and principal defense aide to the late Congressman Floyd D. Spence (R-SC).  Mr. Costello’s major focus was on naval ships and weapons procurement, research and development, special warfare, naval petroleum reserves, national defense stockpile, and defense-wide environmental cleanup funding and policy issues. He served as an infantry non-commissioned officer with the U.S. Army, and later with the Army Reserves.

Harvey F. Ernest, Jr. - completed a 27-year career with 3M, a $16 billion global company.  He was head of 3M Federal Systems, the central strategy and business development organization for national government markets. The Defense Department is the primary user of the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) purchases and 3M held more GSA FSS contracts than any other manufacturing company.

Stacie Walters Fujii - joined The Livingston Group from Congressman Vic Snyder’s (D-AR) office. She was a senior staffer for the Congressman and handled issues relating to the judiciary, banking, commerce, energy, homeland security, housing, science, Social Security, and telecommunications.  Ms. Fujii brings to the team extensive appropriations experience and a keen background in homeland security legislation, including border and port security, crisis management and civil liberties issues.

M.L. "Tripp" Funderburk - served as a senior aide to Congressman Livingston (R-LA) as both personal and committee staff.  As Senior Vice President for The Washington Group, Mr. Funderburk represented clients before Congress and the executive branch on various defense and homeland security issues.

John J. Jaskot - served as a fellow on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and later as Coast Guard liaison with the U.S. Senate. (Jones-Walker)

R. Christian Johnsen - has wide-ranging experience in defense, international trade and transportation policy issues. (Jones Walker)

Ronald L. Kelley - has expertise in both corporate and federal research and development (R&D) programs.  He provides guidance on science and technology programs, funding, and policy primarily in the high technology sector.  During his 17-year career with Dow Corning Corporation, he was Director of R&D Contracts and Federal Business Development and established new routes for federal funding for ceramics and electronics. He was also involved in laboratory research and development, customer technical service and development, business and market research, product market management, and business management.  For the last 25 years, his work has been entirely focused on high technology consulting and lobbying.

George P. Sigalos - handled government affairs for a top five U.S. defense contractor and represented over 500 small, medium, and large defense and other federal contractors at a prominent national trade association.  Mr. Sigalos has extensive experience working with the congressional oversight committees related to defense and procurement in both the House and Senate.

Sharon Spigelmyer - served as a senior executive in the Office of Government Affairs for Accenture.  She led the company’s government affairs activities for its USA Federal Client Group, supporting strategic efforts on a wide range of issues, including homeland security, education, appropriations, defense, census, health care, and procurement.  Ms. Spigelmyer joined Accenture after working for four years at the National Association of Manufacturers as the Director of Risk Management and Product Liability and the Director for Human Resources.  Prior to that, she worked as a lawyer for the law firm of Belli and Leonard in San Diego. She also worked as a journalist and public relations account executive in California and Nevada.  She serves as the chairman of Government Affairs Committee of TechAmerica, the leading voice for the U.S. Technology Industry representing 1,500 member companies.  She recently served as Chair of TechAmerica’s Procurement Policy Committee, and served on the Homeland Security Business Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Procurement and Homeland Security committees, and the Professional Services Council’s Government Affairs Committee. 

Mike Waite - retired as a colonel in the U.S. Army National Guard after a 27-year career.  Colonel Waite worked for eight years at the Pentagon, where he was involved in legislative issues and the congressional process.

Representative Clients:

  • ConXTech
  • EADS
  • ESM Group, Inc.
  • Goodyear
  • Oracle
  • Plaquemines Parish
  • Rolls Royce
  • TECT Corp
  • TenCate