Mayor de Blasio Appoints Peter Kauffman as Senior Adviser to COVID-19 Response Team

April 8, 2020

U.S. Navy Veteran and crisis management expert to focus efforts on coronavirus pandemic

NEW YORK—Mayor de Blasio today announced that Peter Kauffmann, a U.S. Navy veteran and founder and principal of Bluejacket Strategies, will join City Hall as a senior advisor to the city's growing COVID-19 response team. Kauffmann will manage day-to-day operations at City Hall for the duration of this crisis. Deputy Mayor for Administration and Chief of Staff Emma Wolfe will continue to focus on coordinating the citywide crisis response.

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, Kauffmann joined the United States Navy and spent five years on active duty as an Intelligence Officer. He deployed twice aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, managing all intelligence collection requirements for the carrier strike group. In 2005, he earned the Humanitarian Service Medal and Navy Achievement Medal for his work during tsunami relief operations in Indonesia. At the Joint Intelligence Center-Pacific, he served as a geopolitical analyst with a focus on the Pacific Rim region.

"From serving our country overseas to fighting for working families in campaigns and government, Peter is a seasoned professional and an expert in crisis management," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "The biggest crises require the brightest minds – and on behalf of all New Yorkers, I'm grateful to Peter for stepping up when our city needs him."

"New York City is going to get through this crisis the same way we've met every challenge before: by looking out for our friends and neighbors, coming together as a community, and taking care of our people," said Peter Kauffmann. "I'm honored to stand with Mayor de Blasio in this fight, and I can't wait to get to work."

About Peter Kauffmann

Peter Kauffmann is the founder and principal of Bluejacket Strategies, a public affairs firm in New York City. He has more than 20 years of experience in public affairs and public service.

Peter has served as Senior Campaign Advisor to Governor Andrew Cuomo; Press Secretary for Senator Hillary Clinton; Deputy Press Secretary at the Democratic National Committee; and Director of Communications for the Governor of New York. During the 2016 election cycle, he was lead communications advisor to Priorities USA, the primary super PAC supporting Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

Peter is Vice Chair of VoteVets, Treasurer of the VetVoice Foundation, a member of the NYC Veterans Advisory Board, and a Truman National Security Project Fellow. He is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College and a native New Yorker.