(WASHINGTON) – Cornerstone, a leading bipartisan government relations and public affairs firm, announced today the expansion of the firm’s public affairs practice with the addition of Lauren Tomlinson, a senior corporate communications and external affairs executive with over 15 years of experience working at the highest levels of government and corporate America.
Tomlinson has provided strategic communications counsel for Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, non-profits and advocacy organizations, with an expertise in crisis, policy, executive, internal, financial, regulatory and stakeholder communications. Tomlinson joins Cornerstone after co-founding Steer PR, a national security-focused public affairs firm, and running her own company, Claffey Communications.
Before founding Claffey Communications, Tomlinson served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, where she was responsible for managing the Department of Homeland Security’s strategic communications. In that role, Tomlinson led interagency communications initiatives, coordinating with the White House, the National Security Council and agency policy communications across the government, including those with jurisdiction on aviation security, cybersecurity, counterterrorism and disaster response. She served and worked directly with three department secretaries and the administration’s senior policy, national security, and legal teams, communicating on international and domestic policy issues to key national and foreign media. Lauren also led internal and external communication strategies to address major homeland security issues, including the federal government’s response to Hurricane Harvey and Maria in 2017, active shooter situations, cybersecurity attacks and the ongoing effort to counter violent extremism with major tech companies. In addition to overseeing the DHS’s employee, stakeholder and digital communications, Lauren prepared the secretaries for international ministerial visits, congressional testimonies, media interviews, and speeches.
Prior to her time at DHS, Lauren held a variety of communications roles in the private and public sectors. She was the Communications Director and Spokeswoman for U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee and the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. She led corporate communications for Southern Company, a Fortune 200 energy company, during a period of growth and several major mergers and acquisitions. She also spent time consulting at the public affairs firms Rational 360 and Hamilton Place Strategies, where she worked with government agencies, Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, foundations and nonprofits to create messages, coalitions and communications campaigns that furthered business and policy objectives, including CFIUS transactions and M&A deals.
“We are so fortunate to have a senior communicator like Lauren with her unique and diverse background in government, corporate and consulting settings,” Cornerstone President Campbell Kaufman said. “Current and potential clients will see immediate value from her experience and expertise.”
In addition to her corporate and political communications experience, Tomlinson also serves as an on-camera commentator for Bloomberg, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News.
“I’ve long admired Cornerstone’s work in both government and strategic communications,” Tomlinson said. “I’m thrilled to join the impressive roster of talent they have assembled and continue to do the work that I love – advising clients who find themselves at the intersection of policy, politics and public relations.”
Tomlinson received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Georgia and her Master’s Degree in Corporate Communications and Public Relations from Georgetown University.