A member of Spencer Stuart's Industrial, Legal Search, and Education, Nonprofit & Public Policy practices, Jackie Arends brings more than a decade of senior-level Washington political and U.S. government experience to the firm. Jackie specializes in senior-level defense industry and homeland security searches and leads the firm's government relations search efforts.
Jackie most recently served in dual roles as special assistant to the President of the United States and special assistant to the Secretary of Defense. In her White House capacity, Jackie advised the President on all presidential appointments and personnel hires within the national security arena and, at the same time, served as a key adviser to the Secretary of Defense, helping him build his team at the Pentagon and acting as liaison to the White House.
Prior to joining the administration, Jackie was an associate attorney with Kutak Rock in Washington, D.C. She also served as a Congressional affairs specialist for the law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand.
Before entering the private sector, Jackie worked for a United States Senator as a senior legislative assistant for foreign relations and defense. She also served in a previous White House administration, the Department of Defense, and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.
Jackie received her J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law and is a graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont. She is fluent in German, French and Danish. Jackie also is a member of the Maryland Bar, the District of Columbia Bar, and the Supreme Court Bar.