Mark Pfeifle

Mark Pfeifle
Born (1972-03-30) March 30, 1972 (age 52)
Wishek, North Dakota, U.S.
Occupation(s)Deputy National Security Advisory for Strategic Communication and Global Outreach National Security Council
Deputy Assistant to the President of the United States

Mark Pfeifle (born March 30, 1972) was a top national security advisor and communicator for President George W. Bush. Pfeifle served as deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor for strategic communications and global outreach at the White House from 2007 to 2009.[1] Pfeifle is the founder and president of Off the Record Strategies, a public relations and strategy company, and he is a blogger for the Huffington Post.

Pfeifle was the principal interagency coordinator for national security outreach and communication strategy from 2007 to the end of the George W. Bush administration. Pfeifle led the successful communication effort to promote Bush’s “surge” of U.S. forces into Iraq,[2] including a month-long stint in Baghdad.[3] He worked on international communication initiatives to de-legitimize al Qaeda, to stop Iran from enriching uranium, to denuclearize North Korea, to achieve fair and free trade agreements and to advocate the causes of freedom, liberty and human rights to those suffering under brutal dictatorships.[4]

On January 13, 2009, Fort Leavenworth Commander and former Iraq War spokesman and then-Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV awarded Pfeifle the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Award for “dramatically improved communication planning and strategies...in support of the Global War on Terror.”[5]

In July 2009, Pfeifle created a stir in the online and tech community when he called for Twitter to be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize for its assistance in helping the people of Iran. Pfeifle wrote in the Christian Science Monitor that "When traditional journalists were forced to leave the country, Twitter became a window for the world to view hope, heroism, and horror. It became the assignment desk, the reporter, and the producer. And, because of this, Twitter and its creators are worthy of being considered for the Nobel Peace Prize."[6]

  1. ^ Kamen, Al. "In Six Years in Office, One Year at Camp David", Washington Post, January 15, 2007.
  2. ^ Stockman, Farah. "2 polls suggest grim view of surge", The Boston Globe, Washington, September 10, 2007.
  3. ^ Lord, Erin. "UND graduate successful in Washington D.C."[permanent dead link‍], The Dakota Student, September 12, 2007
  4. ^ "Contribution Page - Leadership Institute". www.leadershipinstitute.org.
  5. ^ Allen, Mike. "POOL REPORT, FROM THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE EEOB YESTERDAY", “The POLITICO Playbook”, January 14, 2009
  6. ^ Pfeifle, Mark. "A Nobel Peace Prize for Twitter?", Christian Science Monitor, July 6, 2009.