Edward M. Kennedy Institute Welcomes David Urban to Board of Directors

 

February 11, 2025 (Boston, MA) – The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate announced that David J. Urban, managing director for the bipartisan public affairs firm BGR Group and Of Counsel at Torridon Law, has joined its Board of Directors. Urban, a veteran, brings to the Institute a wealth of political and government experience, including his pivotal role in President Trump’s 2016 victory. As a member of the board, Urban will help direct the Institute’s mission to foster bipartisanship among political leaders, promote civil debate, and educate the public about the role of the Senate.

“David’s insight, perspective, and relationships in Washington make him an ideal member of our board and clearly demonstrates our commitment to bipartisanship and opinions from both sides of the aisle,” board Chairman Bruce Percelay said.

Urban joins a board that includes eight former members of Congress – four from each party — and other political and policy experts.

“As someone who got to work with Senator Kennedy during my time as a Chief of Staff in the Senate, I’m deeply honored for the opportunity to contribute to the legacy of leadership and bipartisanship that the Senator exemplified,” Urban said. “I am grateful for the trust placed in me, and look forward to working alongside my esteemed colleagues to further the Institute’s mission of educating and inspiring the next generation of leaders.”

A graduate of West Point decorated for his service in the first Gulf War and a former chief of staff to the late Senator Arlen Specter, Urban also has been an analyst for CNN, appearing almost daily as one of the network’s most conservative voices.

“David Urban has earned respect for not only his military service but his thoughtful commentary about today’s political environment through CNN and his various public-facing positions,” board member and former U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy 3rd said.

Urban has consulted on a variety of high-profile House, Senate, and Presidential campaigns, and joined the 2016 Trump campaign in its early days as an advisor in the Pennsylvania and Indiana primaries. After helping secure victories in those states, he helped direct caucus operations at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Post-convention, he played a pivotal role in securing Trump’s historic victory in Pennsylvania, an outcome crucial to Trump’s capturing the Presidency.

In 2018 President Trump appointed Urban as the 11th chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission, where he played a lead role in the commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the First World War armistice and the 75th anniversaries of the D-Day landings and the Battle of the Bulge. President Trump also appointed him to the Board of Visitors (Trustees) for the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Urban currently serves as managing director of BGR Group, a global firm specializing in government affairs, public relations, advisory, and risk analysis services. He is Of Counsel at Torridon Law where he provides strategic advice and guidance to clients throughout the high-profile firm’s roster.

Before joining BGR and Torridon, Urban served as executive vice president of North American Corporate Affairs for ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, helping to navigate public policy and communications challenges and advising on Environmental, Social, and Governance issues. Before that, he served as president of American Continental Group, a boutique government affairs consulting firm.

Prior to his time at ACG, Urban spent five years as chief of staff to the late U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, serving as the Senator’s senior advisor on all legislative, political, media, and administrative matters in Pennsylvania and Washington. Before going to Washington, Urban was an attorney at Ballard Spahr in Philadelphia, one of the country’s premier public finance firms.

Urban is a graduate of West Point and holds a law degree from Temple University and a master’s in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed Oxford University’s Leading Sustainable Corporations Programme and Florida Atlantic University’s Statfor Certification in Geopolitical Analysis.

Urban served as artillery officer in the U.S. Army’s famed 101st Airborne Division and was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious achievement during combat operations in Operation Desert Storm. He served as an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz School of Government and is an active member of both the Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., bars.

Nantucket Magazine recently featured Urban in a lengthy piece titled “Urban Legend,” which detailed his career in the military and his role in President Trump’s 2016 campaign. Urban’s effectiveness as a lobbyist has been referenced by The New York Times, The Hill, Roll Call, Corporate Board Member magazine, and Campaigns and Elections magazine, and Politico called him one of the 30 most powerful people in “Trump’s Washington.”

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About the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United State Senate

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate actively inspires all Americans to keep our democracy and civic life vibrant, educate the public about the unique role of the Senate in our government, and promote civil discourse to drive bipartisan solutions for our nation’s challenges. Through educational programs, public forums, and digital exhibits, the Kennedy Institute welcomes individuals of all ages to debate the issues of the day, learn from each other, and leave empowered to make their own contributions to improving their communities.