Peter Madigan, ’81 is a partner with the Washington, DC-based lobbying firm of Peck Madigan Jones and a board member of the International Republican Institute (chaired by Sen. John McCain), with more than twenty years of experience in Washington politics. He graduated from from the University of Maine with a BA in Political Science and Broadcasting. While at UMaine, Madigan took part in the Congressional Internship Program (now named in his honor), assisting then Sens. William Cohen and George Mitchell, and Reps. Olympia Snowe and David Emery. He developed a close relationship with Rep. Emery, then House Republican Chief Deputy Whip, who made sure Madigan received his share of challenging opportunities including helping research a piece of legislation which ultimately became a Supreme Court case known as Goldwater vs. Carter.After UMaine, Madigan was offered a job as Floor Assistant to Rep. Emery, where he assisted the Republican Leadership in passing President Reagan’s early budget reform legislative packages. From 1983 to 1985, Madigan was appointed Legislative Assistant to Budget Director David A. Stockman; then Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services. From 1984 to 1985, Madigan served as Legislative Director for the National Association of Realtors, where he was responsible for all banking, budget, and tax legislation.
During the Reagan Administration, Madigan served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Legislative Affairs. He served at the Department of State as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs. In this position, Madigan was the second highest-ranking officer assisting the Secretary of State James A. Baker, III with respect to all legislative, policy, and political matters. Upon leaving the State Department, Secretary Baker awarded Madigan the Foreign Affairs Award for Public Service.
During the Bush Adminstration, Madigan served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick. Over the years, Madigan has been an executive and legislative branch strategist for Fortune 100 companies, non-profit organizations, and small business and foreign heads of state. He helped expand trade and business opportunities within the U.S. and abroad, reduce Congressional barriers for corporate mergers and acquisitions, and eliminate unnecessary regulations. He worked on key legislation including the Central American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement, the Sarbanes Oxley Act, and the Internet Tax Freedom Act. Prior to joining Peck Madigan Jones, Madigan was the President and Chief Operation Officer of Boland & Madigan, Inc., a leading Washington DC government affairs firm.