Ward Cormier serves as Senior Director of Federal Affairs at The Picard Group. He brings over a decade of experience on Capitol Hill and an advanced understanding of House and Senate legislative procedures and appropriations processes. Prior to The Picard Group, Cormier served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA). Cormier was responsible for all aspects of the Congressman’s policy operations and served as top advisor for legislative strategies and federal funding priorities, including his duties as Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation & Operations, and House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Additionally, Cormier was the policy lead for all Army Corp of Engineers, Energy, Environmental, FEMA, and Infrastructure issues.

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Cormier moved to Washington, D.C. in 2011 to join the office of Senator David Vitter (R-LA) as a Legislative Correspondent. Before long, Cormier stepped into the role of professional staff member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, where he was responsible for briefing the Committee’s Ranking Member, developing legislative initiatives, coordinating Committee hearings, and drafting public statements. In 2016, Cormier transitioned to the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship where he served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Chairman with a focus on energy production, seafood safety, and initiatives to protect environmental resources important to Louisiana.

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Throughout his time on Capitol Hill, Cormier worked on and authored significant pieces of legislation that were considered by Congress and passed into law. He has also had his work included as part of multiple program re-authorizations and funding packages, including the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), National Defense Authorization Act, and Annual Appropriations bills.

 

Cormier has significant experience dealing with natural disaster aftermaths, having played a senior role in the efforts to push the federal government to deliver significant funding to Louisiana in response to multiple major hurricanes and flooding events.

 

A native of Welsh, LA, Cormier is a graduate of Louisiana State University and Mississippi College School of Law. He resides in Washington D.C. with his wife.