Most recently, Lauren 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. She came to Cornerstone after co-founding Steer PR, a national security-focused public affairs firm, and running her own company, Claffey Communications.

Before founding Claffey Communications, Lauren 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. In addition to overseeing the DHS’s employee, stakeholder and digital communications, Lauren prepared the secretaries for international ministerial visits, congressional testimonies, media interview and speeches.

Other roles she has held in the past include Director, Corporate Communications for Southern Company, Senior Director for Rational 360, and Communications Director for the U.S. Senate, Senate Intelligence Committee. Also, Lauren was an on-camera commentator for CNN, BBC, MSNBC, CBS and Fox News.

Lauren received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Georgia and her master’s in corporate communications and public relations from Georgetown University.