Issues & Advocacy
 

Meet the Lobbyists

The National Guard Association of the United States is the voice of the National Guard on Capitol Hill to advocate for the highest level of readiness, modernization, and quality of life for our National Guard family. The NGAUS legislative staff carries out that mission by helping transform resolutions into reality.

Pete Duffy
Pete Duffy
Acting Director
202-454-5307

Retired Col. Peter J. Duffy has been serving as the Acting Director of Legislation for NGAUS since March 2012, having previously served as Deputy Director of Legislation and Joint Programs since January 2007. As Acting Director, Duffy administers NGAUS legislative staff operations. He also continues to manage NGAUS Joint Programs lobbying efforts for National Guard medical, personnel and veteran benefits and homeland security programs.

Duffy is a retired Army JAG Colonel who served as the Judge Advocate for the New Hampshire Army National Guard until his retirement in 2005. He retired from his law practice in Manchester, N.H., to join NGAUS after 30 years as a civil litigator. He is admitted to the bar in California and New Hampshire.

Duffy spent his active duty years in the Federal Republic of Germany as a defense counsel, legal assistance officer and counsel to the tri-service Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Board. He holds a B.A. from Stanford University; a J.D. from the University of California at Davis; and an M.A. in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Annie Lively
Annie Lively
Senior Legislative Affairs Manager, Army Programs
202-408-5897

Annie Lively serves as the Senior Legislative Affairs Manager at NGAUS with responsibility for overseeing strategy and execution of legislative priorities related to Army National Guard funding and equipment. In her role, she develops comprehensive Congressional engagement strategies to advance National Guard initiatives, drafts and analyzes legislation, including the President's Budget and the annual Defense Appropriations bill, coordinates grassroots legislative action campaigns, and identifies issues and opportunities in the legislative environment.

Prior to joining NGAUS, Lively worked for Rep. Kathy Castor (Fla.) as a staff assistant and legislative correspondent, assisting on issues related to military and veterans, and has worked in government and non-profit public relations. She is an active member the National Defense Industry Association, Women in Defense, and Association Media & Publishing.

Lively holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Political Science from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fla.

Mary Catherine Ott
Mary Catherine Ott
Legislative Affairs Manager, Air Programs and Cyber Security
202-408-5884

Mary Catherine Ott serves as Legislative Affairs Manager at NGAUS with responsibilities for overseeing strategy and execution of legislative priorities related to Air National Guard funding and equipment as well as cyber security policy. In her role, she develops targeted lobbying and communications strategies, engages members of Congress and their staff, analyzes legislation with an emphasis on the Defense Authorization bills, coordinates grassroots legislative action campaigns, and identifies issues and opportunities in the legislative environment.

Prior to joining NGAUS, Ott worked for Missouri Senators Kit Bond and Roy Blunt assisting in a variety of issues, with a focus on defense, foreign affairs, veterans, budget, homeland security and telecommunications. She is an active member in the National Defense Industry Association, Women in Defense, Association for Enterprise Information and the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association.

Ott holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from Providence College in Providence, RI.