Washington, DC — FWD.us today announced that former White House and National Security Council Spokesman and Department of Homeland Security Deputy Assistant Secretary Peter Boogaard would join the senior staff as Communications Director.

Peter’s hire adds a seasoned communications voice to FWD.us’ growing bipartisan team. His expertise in immigration policy will add considerable strength to the organization’s efforts to revitalize the broken immigration system.

Prior to FWD.us, Peter served as Director of Communications and Assistant Press Secretary at the White House, where he held a dual role with the National Security Office and White House Press Office. There, he focused on a range of domestic security issues, including immigration and border security, refugee policy, disaster response, and Western Hemisphere affairs including Central American migration and Cuba policy. Peter previously worked for the Department of Homeland Security, where he served as Press Secretary and ultimately Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. He began his career on Capitol Hill as Press Secretary for U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper.

“Peter’s wealth of knowledge about the immigration system and his credibility in the national media market will be a tremendous asset for our bipartisan organization,” said FWD.us President Todd Schulte. “We’re excited to leverage his experience as a homeland security expert as we work with members of both parties to find commonsense solutions on immigration and criminal justice reform.”

A nationally-recognized communications expert, Peter will continue to be at the center of immigration reform efforts as a senior staffer at FWD.us.

“FWD.us has built an incredibly talented team focused on finding commonsense, bipartisan solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing our nation,” said Peter Boogaard. “FWD.us is an example of Democrats and Republicans looking past the partisanship that has so often defined our politics and, instead, working together to make our country safer, stronger, and more competitive. I’m excited to continue fighting for immigration reform and criminal justice reform, and working to ensure the American Dream is achievable in the 21st century.”