March 25, 2021 – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, today announced that Fred Turner, a longtime congressional aide and Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Finance and Banking committees, will join the firm as a Senior Vice President in its International Affairs Practice. He will also be supporting clients in the Financial Services and Commerce practices.
As Chief of Staff to Senator Menendez, Fred is the senator’s top policy and political advisor with oversight of his offices in Washington, D.C., and New Jersey. A Garden State native, Fred joined Senator Menendez after working as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Helsinki Commission. He was appointed to that position by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and served for seven years. While there, he advised commissioners about foreign policy matters and shaped commission hearings, briefings, and special events. He also organized and participated in more than two dozen congressional trips abroad.
“I am excited to join BGR Group and to work on behalf of its clients across multiple practice groups,” Turner said. “BGR is well known for its bipartisan, solution-oriented approach. I am looking forward to bringing my experience from both the House and Senate, as well as my overseas work, to an already excellent team.”
“Fred will make an outstanding addition to BGR Group,” said Bob Wood, President and CEO of BGR Group. “He is widely respected on both sides of the aisle as hard working, smart, and effective. BGR and our clients will greatly benefit from his policy experience and political perspective on a wide range of issues.”
Senator Menendez said, “As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, and a senior member of both the Senate Finance and Banking committees, I have benefited immensely from Fred’s policy expertise and political acumen in every facet of my operation. He has been at my side for many years, and at the end of the day, he is a trusted voice of reason and ultimately policy and electoral success. I have no doubt that Fred will continue to be that valuable voice to his new colleagues, and to me, in the months and years ahead.”
Senator Cardin added, “Fred has been a trusted advisor to me for many years. His broad substantive expertise on international affairs and strategic political thinking both here and abroad is outstanding. His advice has been invaluable in my efforts to advance human rights, reduce global corruption and build democratic society.”
“Fred Turner is a maestro of Capitol Hill,” Rep. Hastings said. “In his over 25 years of service, Fred has been what some would call a servant leader. He has an infectious enthusiasm and a get-things-done personality. He was an outstanding Chief of Staff to me both in my personal office and at the Helsinki Commission. Fred knows the meaning of public service. His calm and trusted demeanor has made him a steadfast ally with members of both the House and Senate on both sides of the aisle. I am truly grateful for his years of public service and wish him all the very best in his next endeavor.”
Prior to his leadership of the Helsinki Commission, Fred served for more than twelve years on the staff of Rep. Hastings, the last seven as Chief of Staff. He also served as an Associate Staff Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Rules Committee, Democratic Staff Director of the House Rules Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process, and Democratic Staff Director of the House International Relations Subcommittee on Europe. In addition, he was Legislative Director for Rep. Karen McCarthy (D-MO) and a graduate fellow with the Anti-Defamation League.
Fred is an honors graduate of American University where he earned his B.A. and M.A. in political science. For several years, he was an Adjunct Professor of Government at American University’s School of Public Affairs. He is the author of The Participation of Members of the U.S. Congress in NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Assemblies (co-authored with Zlatko Sabic).
