Thune Announces Key Senate Institutional Positions
WASHINGTON — Jennifer Hemingway will be the next Senate sergeant at arms and Jackie Barber will be its next secretary of the chamber, when it reopens for business in January, Sen. John Thune announced Thursday evening.
Thune, the incoming Senate majority leader, described the women as “two immensely qualified professionals” who “will be crucial to the Senate’s functioning on a day-to-day basis.”
“These are often thankless jobs, so allow me to express my gratitude on behalf of the American people for their willingness to serve the Senate and the nation,” he said in a written statement.
As the chief law enforcement officer of the Senate, the sergeant at arms maintains the security in the Capitol and all Senate buildings, as well as protection of the members themselves.
Hemingway briefly served as acting sergeant at arms of the Senate and acting chairwoman of the Capitol Police Board following the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
She was tapped for the position by then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ken., who needed to replace her following the resignation of Michael Stenger immediately after the attack on the historic building.
She served in the post until Gen. Karen Gibson was confirmed as the new Senate sergeant at arms in March of that year.
Prior to that, Hemingway has served in a number of key positions since coming to Capitol Hill in 1996.
After serving on the staff of a number of lawmakers including Rep. Joe Scarborough, R-Fla., who is now the host of television’s “Morning Joe’ program, she became deputy staff director of the powerful House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
In 2001 and 2002, she was the associate director of public affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation, and later became a staffer of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
After eight years with the Homeland Security Committee, Hemingway worked as the treasurer of the District of Columbia Library Association and president of the Junior League of Washington.
She returned to the United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform in 2015. In 2017 and 2018, she was the director of operations for then-Speaker Paul Ryan.
She has served as deputy sergeant at arms of the Senate since December 2018.
The Secretary of the Senate, meanwhile, is responsible for an extensive array of offices and services essential to the day-to-day operations of the U.S. Senate. The secretary keeps the legislative records of the Senate, including minutes of proceedings, calendars of business, debates, nominations, bills, and amendments.
Barber is currently the staff director for the Republicans on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee. She has also been a staffer with the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, the House Agriculture Committee and the House Ethics Committee.
Earlier in her career, she was deputy general counsel to the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue
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