1. October 28 '14 2014
PUBLIC & PRIVATE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
INNOVATIVE BUSINESS STRATEGY UTILIZING TALENT
MOBILITY
RE-DEFINING LEADERSHIP
Presented in alliance with
to be held at...
The NATIONAL PRESS CLUB
529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor
11:35 - 12:05
Doing Business in Washington
NAVIGATING the 4 PILLARS
Chuck Brooks will discuss his experiences in the various pillars of ...
1) Executive Business,
2) Government (Executive & Legislative Branches),

2. 3) Academia/Policy
4) with the Media in the Nation’s Capitol.
He will examine how to target outreach to key decision–makers and
advance your marketing efforts and/or cause in the public/private
sector world.
CHARLES (Chuck) BROOKS
Vice President, Client Executive
Department of Homeland Security
Xerox Federal Government Solutions
ABOUT
Xerox has $22 B in annual revenues and serves clients in 160 countries. For
some background about the speaker, Chuck Brooks recently served as Vice
President for R & D at Rapiscan Systems specializing in CBRNE sensor
technologies. Chuck served as the Vice President for Government Affairs at
SRA International Inc, where he was part of Executive Leadership reporting
directly to the CEO. He also ran SRA’s PAC. Chuck served as the first
Director of Legislative Affairs for the Science & Technology Directorate within
the Department of Homeland Security, where he was responsible for
advocacy for the Directorate with Capitol Hill. Chuck was an Adjunct Faculty
Member at Johns Hopkins University. He also spent 6 years on Capitol Hill as
a Senior Advisor to the late Senator Arlen Specter where he covered national
security, defense, foreign affairs, and technology issues.
Article from The Hill newspaper:
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/washington-metro-news/217783-navigating-the-four-pillars-of-washington
September 16,2014,
Navigating the four pillars of
Washington
By Chuck Brooks, contributor

3. Washington is an eclectic city. It is a metropolis that is thriving economically and socially. Its
architectural design is modeled after Paris and it is certainly a city of cultural diversity and
historically interesting neighborhoods. Visually, the site of the monuments reflecting against
the panoramic backdrop of the Potomac River is memorable for both visitors and native
Washingtonians alike.
It is really a city like no other city in America. Although it may be geographically small,
Washington serves as the engine of government, an anchor of global financial policy and
representation, a seat of institutionalized policymaking organizations, and as a growing
center for business, especially in high tech.
When I first came to Washington, I was overwhelmed by the intensity of life "inside the
Beltway." I was enamored with all it had to offer ("Potomac Fever") but uncertain how to
navigate it and decipher how things worked. Looking back, I would like to offer structure and
pathways for others contemplating a public service career or seeking to accomplish tangible
objectives for policy and/or business purposes in the nation's capital.
ADVERTISEMENT
There are four pillars that comprise the foundation of the operational world of Washington:
government (executive, judicial and legislative branches); commercial (business, including
global financial institutions; policy: (academia, think tanks and associations/organizations);
and media (old and new).
These pillars function both individually and collectively. They are intertwined and to be
effective, it is essential to understand their roles and impact on what you hope to
accomplish. Understanding and gaining experience within these pillars that comprise the
operational system of Washington takes focus and time. Success can be realized by
navigating the pillars and establishing a strategy of strategic relationship building and
connecting.
Government: There has never been any doubt that government and politics make
Washington tick. Government is not only the basis for tens of thousands of jobs in the area,
but it also serves as the fulcrum for evolving and communicating domestic and international
policies. Government is the center for laws and executive orders overseeing all aspects of
our daily life and our professions. The Pentagon, intelligence agencies, and Department of
Homeland Security are all based in Washington because it is the epicenter of power and
decision-making. Government in Washington is by design structured as a system of check
and balances. An understanding of how the various branches of government function is
essential to influencing any regulatory outcome whether it be energy, healthcare or a
national security issue. Working on Capitol Hill is invaluable experience and connects to all
the pillars and is a special pedigree for mobility in one's career.
Commercial: Although it is not a financial center like New York, Washington has been
transforming over the years as a commercial hub. The World Bank, Federal Reserve,
International Financial Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce are some of the
organizations headquartered in the city. Many corporations have also relocated to the area
to be near the action and position themselves for government and commercial
opportunities. Both Virginia and Maryland have established high-tech corridors close to the

4. city for those reasons. The international community with their embassies and trade groups
increasingly see Washington as a growing center for commerce.
Policy: It is not only the pillars of business and government that are cogs in the machine.
Policy organizations (such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the
Brookings Institution, the Heritage Foundation, the American Enterprise Institute and the
Aspen Institute) that provide issue expertise, training and solutions are really the enabling
fuel. A myriad of think tanks offer the latest insights in domestic and global events on a
regular basis. Top local universities (such as Johns Hopkins's School of Advanced
International Studies, George Washington, Georgetown, American, George Mason, and
Maryland), also promote dialogue and informed decision-making and access. The over
6,000 associations and organization with issue specific interests regularly outreach to key
decision–makers who are part of the public and private sector pillars. Strategic
communications and thought leadership are integral tools for persuasion.
Media: The media are disseminators of information, with the duty to circumspect the
activities of the other three pillars. The media's role is a fundamental one; any system of
democratic government cannot operate without transparency and oversight. In Washington,
most of the country's key media outlets have representation. Outside traditional old media,
new media has become a force to consider. Most citizens have constant access and the
metrics of public opinion are constantly pulsed. Corporate executives and government
leaders use the social media, especially LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter as part of their
work environments. Government 2.0 and Business 2.0 are becoming the norms.
Working in one or all of the pillars is helpful in terms of building issue expertise, contacts
and gaining a holistic perspective of how Washington really works. This experience can
provide the tactical knowledge to advance your marketing efforts and/or cause in the
public/private world. There is no substitute for experience and for building a personal
network to be empowered and effective. To be successful, you have to always keep abreast
of the latest trends and be visible and helpful to your customer. In the Washington arena,
you also have to develop the qualities for resilience and persistence as no one is always on
the winning side of issues and contracts.
Washington will always have its image challenges and be an enigma as to how it functions,
especially to those who have never experienced life inside the Beltway. Exploring and
experiencing the four pillars will bring an understanding of how to navigate a path to
success for those who come to this amazing city to make a difference and leave a positive
legacy.
Brooks serves as vice president/client executive for DHS at Xerox. He served in
government at the DHS as the first director of legislative affairs for the science & technology
directorate. He also spent six years on Capitol Hill as a senior adviser to the late Sen. Arlen
Specter (R-Pa.) and was adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins University where he
taught homeland security and Congress. Brooks has an M.A. in international relations from
the University of Chicago and a B.A. in political science from DePauw University. He is
widely published on the subjects of innovation, public/private partnerships, emerging
technologies and issues of cybersecurity. He can be followed on Twitter @ChuckDBrooks.