HII has promoted Peter Courtney to corporate vice president of legislative affairs and adds Betsy Bina Benedict to serve as the director of legislative affairs.
Courtney succeeds Carolyn Apostolou who retired in December after 10 years with the company. He will report directly to Stewart Holmes, HII’s executive vice president of government and customer relations. Benedict will report to Courtney.
“We are pleased to have Peter and his extensive congressional and federal budget experience continue to play a critical role in building and maintaining positive relationships with the legislative branch,” Holmes said. “We are equally pleased to have Betsy join the team who has nearly 25 years serving as a professional staff member for the U.S. Congress. I look forward to Peter and Betsy leading our legislative relationships that will enable HII to provide long-term stability to the divisions and the communities they serve.”
Courtney will be responsible for developing lobbying strategies and implementing lobbying activity, with a focus on U.S. Senate members, staff and committees of jurisdiction. He will also ensure compliance with the Federal Election Commission and all other legal and regulatory disclosure lobbying activity requirements.
Before HII, Courtney served 24 years in the U.S. Navy. His last position in uniform was the deputy director of the Appropriations Matters Office in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management & Comptroller).
Benedict’s experience includes several policy and legislative positions in Congress, including 13 years with the House Appropriations Committee. Most recently, she was clerk for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.