Prior to his work in the private sector, Darien spent nearly a decade in public service. He was deputy policy director at the US Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Darien led the Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion and Security subcommittees, managing the legislative and oversight responsibilities of several agencies, including the US Department of Commerce’s US Commercial Service and the International Trade Administration’s Office of Global Markets. During his time at the committee, Darien also oversaw legislative and oversight efforts related to the US Coast Guard, Maritime Administration, and navigation and merchant marine issues. As an adviser to the chairman, he also provided counsel on counterterrorism and transportation security policy, as well as domestic and international aviation matters.
Immediately before joining the committee, Darien was a senior adviser to the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy at the US Department of Transportation (USDOT). In this capacity, he provided direct support to the Under Secretary in the development of policies for USDOT, generating proposals and providing advice regarding legislative and regulatory initiatives across all modes of transportation. Specifically, Darien advised the Under Secretary on aviation, maritime, transit and passenger rail policy, including serving as a liaison to the Amtrak Board of Directors and management.
Darien began his DC career in the US Senate, serving both on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for then- subcommittee ranking member Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), and in the personal office of Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
Prior to joining the firm, Darien was head of government relations at a venture-backed global supply chain and logistics technology company. As a member of the senior leadership team, he established the company’s government relations function and managed all efforts to identify, monitor, and forecast policy issues related to its business interests.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Darien earned a Bachelor of Arts from Elon University and a Master of Arts from George Mason University, where he was a Bryce Harlow fellow. Additionally, he is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Thomas C. Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership and the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security. In the 117th Congress, Darien was selected as a John C. Stennis Congressional Staff Fellow. An Auxiliarist in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, he is a proud member of Flotilla 25-06 (Occoquan-Fairfax).
