Barkley Pierson

Colorado Representative

(March 2020 - Present)

Independent

(2006 - Present)

**Barkley Pierson** (born September 13, 1980) is an American politician and public policy analyst serving as the U.S. Representative for Colorado's 6th congressional district. In 2003, he has considered himself as a Republican and attempted to gain the Republican nominee for the 7th congressional district, but lost to another Republican nominee.

Since 2006, he has since considered himself as an Independent Centrist.

Pierson holds numerous degrees, such as a Master of Science in Public Policy at the University of Chicago, and Master of Arts in Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights at the University of Cambridge.

Pierson was elected into Congress on March 2020, and relatively considered as a junior House member, Pierson considers his knowledge and education in public, foreign, and ethical policies a critical tool to his decision making as a Congressional member. In late March, 2020, Pierson unofficially founded the Ethical Constitution Party (ECP), and has proclaimed himself as the Party's Chairman.

## Early life and Education

Barkley Pierson was born on September 13, 1980 at Denver, Colorado. He is the first of two children born to an Dr. James H. Pierson, a military officer for the United States Air Force, and Mary Pierson, a diplomat and professor from the University of Phoenix.

His family moved to Washington D.C. when his father was prompted for a promotion to be a four-star general, and reassignment to the Pentagon. Pierson lived most of youth life in D.C. until being sent back to Denver at the age of seventeen to focus on his education.

While he was keen on following his father and grandfather's footstep in military servitude, he decided that serving his nation as a civilian for the government was the best way to retain his family's tradition.

In 2003, Pierson graduated form the University of Chicago with a M.Sc. in Public Policy. He then enrolled at the University of Cambridge to graduate with a M.A. in Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights.

## Early Department of Defense Career

In August, 2005, the United States Department of Defense employed Pierson as a security and ethical analyst for the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. As a policy advisor, he went onto advise and guide the Under Secretary and other key officials within the Pentagon on crucial matters, including potential infrastructure and ethical issues within the department.

In 2010, the Office for Secretary of Defense appointed Barkley Pierson as the Assistant Director for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). But by January 2011, he resigned from the agency, citing arguments and conflicting interests with the DSCA Director. Pierson, however, remained as a Pentagon consultant at the request of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

## Assistant Secretary of Defense

In 2015, Pierson was appointed as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs (ASD/LA).

During his tenure as the Assistant Secretary, he ensured that his goals were to maintain a strong relationship with Congress and the Committee on Armed Services to ensure "America's strong military might continues to protect her allies and people."

In 2017, at the direction of Secretary Pierson, the Department of Defense's Legislative Affairs were to undergo reorganization, citing inadequate process and lack of communications with military advisors and congressional aides.

## House of Representative

In late 2019, Secretary Pierson resigned from his position to run for the 7th Congressional District in Colorado. His campaign focused on the district's inadequate tourism and business which gained a strong support for his recognition on the worker class. Despite his background, Pierson was seen by many as an advocate for social and labor reorganization, but many criticized his views on being "soft on the economy."

He also advocated for a strong, well-being military force while also ensuring international cooperation and diplomatic relations.

By March, 2020, Pierson won the congressional district elections and was elected. Since the elections, he has published two bills to push for reforms on congressional proceedings in regards to bill repeals process, called the "Congressional Repeals Reforms Act" or "Repeals Reforms Act", and reforms on airport security.