Assistant Secretary, Office of Legislative Affairs
Nelson Peacock was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in August 2010. The Office of Legislative Affairs coordinates legislative activity for the Department, working closely with authorization, appropriations, and oversight committees of the House and Senate, as well as individual Members of Congress that have an interest in homeland security-related issues.
As Assistant Secretary, Mr. Peacock advises the Secretary of Homeland Security on legislative matters, directs and manages the Office of Legislative Affairs, and acts as the Department’s principal liaison with the U.S. Congress. He oversees effective communications between Department officials and the Members of Congress and their staffs. Mr. Peacock supports the Secretary by ensuring that the Administration’s homeland security priorities are reflected throughout the legislative and oversight process.
Mr. Peacock first joined the Department in March 2009, when he was appointed to serve as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs. Before his appointment, Mr. Peacock was a member of the Department of Homeland Security Transition Team for the incoming Obama Administration.
Prior to the 2008 election, Mr. Peacock served as the Senior Counsel for then-Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the Senate Judiciary Committee. For five years, Mr. Peacock advised Senator Biden in the areas of homeland security, crime, and intellectual property rights. He was responsible for developing and implementing Senator Biden’s legislative and political strategy on issues pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Mr. Peacock played a key role in developing and passing into law the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008, which was signed by President George W. Bush on October 13, 2008 (PL 110-401).
Mr. Peacock was appointed by President William J. Clinton to serve as the Deputy Director for Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Justice. A veteran of several national political campaigns, Mr. Peacock was also a key member of General Wesley Clark’s 2004 presidential campaign.
Mr. Peacock was born and raised in 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.