Government Service

The scholars at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies often put their expertise to work for the U.S. Government. In addition to testifying before Congressional committees, our scholars are often called upon to lend their skills and knowledge to other parts of the government. On this page, you can explore the many public contributions of CCPS scholars.

Prof. James Thurber

2007-2009 Advisor, Government Relations/Executive Staff, Sandia National Laboratories

2006 Expert Witness, Statements on Lobbying and Ethics Reform, Senate Committee on Rules (February 8, 2006), Senate Indian Affairs Committee (February 8, 2006), House Committee on Rules (March 2, 2006), and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (May 2007).

2003 Expert Witness, Statement Supporting Congressional Committee Reorganization of Homeland Security Jurisdiction. Statement and testimony published by Select Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Rules, House of Representatives, 108th Congress, Second Session, July 3, 2003, "Hearing on Perspectives on House Reform: Committees and the Executive Branch," Serial No. 108-15.

2002-2003 Expert Witness on the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, U.S. Supreme Court case for the U.S. Department of Justice. Prepared detailed analysis of coordination and issue advocacy in federal election campaigns.

1994-1995 Advisor, Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress, U.S. Congress (U.S. Representatives David Dreier and Lee Hamilton, co-chairs). Organized symposia and contributed research on congressional budget process and other topics for the Joint Committee. Several Joint Committee studies led to the major internal committee reforms of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1995.

1995 Expert Witness, Comments Supporting Lobbying Reforms, Committee on Rules, U.S. House of Representatives, November 7, 1995. Statement and testimony printed by Committee on Rules.

1995-2003 Lecturer, Leadership Institute, Los Alamos National Laboratory. U.S. Department of Energy.

1994 Special Advisor on conflict resolution over High Level Civilian Radioactive Waste Disposal Site Selection (Yucca Mountain Project), U.S. Department of Energy.

1991-1995 U.S. Representative to the International Energy Agency Technical Committee on Management and Organization of Nuclear Power Plants, 1991- 1995.

1992-1994 Special Advisor on nuclear waste repository site selection process to the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, U.S. Department of Energy.

1994 Expert Witness, Statement Against Term Limits for Members of Congress, Judiciary Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, June 21, 1994. Statement and testimony printed by the Judiciary Committee.

1992 Expert Witness, Statement Supporting the Establishment of A Temporary Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress, Committee on Rules, U.S. House of Representatives, May 20, 1992. Statement and testimony printed by Committee on Rules.

1991-1995 U.S. Representative, International Atomic Energy Agency Technical Committee on Management and Organization of Nuclear Power Plants, 1991-1995.

1986-1987 Committee Member of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Advisory Committee to Evaluate the Tennessee Valley Authority's Corporate Nuclear Performance Plan, 1986-87.

1980-Present Lecturer, Executive Development Seminars, Western Management Development Center, Eastern Management Development Center, Federal Executive Institute, U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

1977 Professional Staff Member, Commission on Administrative Review, U.S. House of Representatives (Rep. David R. Obey, chair). Evaluated performance of the four congressional support agencies; assisted in survey of members and staff leading to reforms of the Office of Technology Assessment and General Accounting Office.

1976-1977 Professional Staff Member, Temporary Select Committee to Study the Senate Committee System, U.S. Senate (Senators Adlai E. Stevenson III and William E. Brock, co-chairs) May 1976 to February 1977. Served as expert in congressional reform and survey research methods; directed survey of Senators and staff; drafted and assisted in the implementation of energy and environment committee jurisdictional changes. The Committee developed and secured passage of the first successful Senate committee reorganization since 1946.

1974-1975 Legislative Assistant, U.S. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, APSA Congressional Fellow and permanent staff. Primary legislative responsibilities: Energy and Environment.

1973-1974 Legislative Assistant, U.S. Representative James G. O'Hara, November 1973 to April 1974, APSA Congressional Fellowship. Primary legislative responsibilities: Energy and Environment.

1971-1973 Principal Investigator, Computer Assisted Redistricting for Washington State Legislative and Congressional Districts, Washington State Senate, 1971-1973, research grant, Washington State University.

1971 Nominee for Master Redistrictor for State of Washington, U.S. Federal District Court, 1971.