OFFICE OF THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

Peter M. Kushner
General Counsel

Current Duties:  Responsible for providing legal advice on all issues affecting the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, including issues involving contracts, real property, environment, personnel, labor, safety, tort, fiscal law, and ethics.  Supervise a staff of eight attorneys, one labor relations specialist, one paralegal, and three administrative support personnel.  Also supervise the work of private attorneys hired by contract to represent the Architect of the Capitol in litigation of contract claims before the GAO Contract Appeals Board and in personnel hearings before the Office of Compliance.

Prior Work Experience:  Served as Counsel, Southern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Charleston, SC (1995-2004).  Responsible for providing legal advice to the Command on issues involving construction, architect-engineer, and service contracts for Navy, Marine Corps, and select Air Force bases within a twenty-six State geographic area.  Also provided legal advice on issues involving environment, real property, base closure and realignment, personnel, labor, and ethics.  Prior to that served as Senior Counsel, Office of the Assistant General Counsel (Installations & Environment), Department of the Navy, Washington, DC (1989-1995).  Responsible for providing legal advice to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations & Environment), Chief of Naval Operations, and Commandant of the Marine Corps and staffs on environmental cleanup, hazardous waste compliance, and environmental enforcement matters.  Prior to that served as Assistant Counsel, Southern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Charleston, SC (1985-1989).  Responsible for providing legal advice on issues involving construction, architect-engineer, and service contracts; on claims arising under those contracts; representing the Command in litigation before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals and in GAO protests; and providing advice on environmental matters.  Served in the US Navy from 1974 to 1981 and in the Naval Reserve from 1981 to 1995.  Retired at the rank of Commander.

Education and Professional Memberships:  Bachelor of Science, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, 1974.  Completed U.S. Naval Flight School and designated a Naval Aviator, 1976.  Master of Arts, University of Southern California, United Kingdom Program, Cambridge, England, 1981.  Juris Doctor, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 1984.  Graduated, U.S. Naval War College, Command and Staff School, Washington, DC Campus, 1994.  Member, Maryland Bar Association, since 1985.