Our Team
Peter Kauffmann
Founder/CEO
Peter Kauffmann is the founder and CEO of Bluejacket Strategies, with 25 years of experience in public affairs and public service.
At the height of the COVID pandemic in New York City, Peter served as Senior Advisor to the Mayor, managing day-to-day operations at City Hall for the duration of the crisis.
Peter has served as Press Secretary for Senator Hillary Clinton; Senior Campaign Advisor to Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul; Deputy Press Secretary at the Democratic National Committee; Director of Communications for the Governor of New York; and lead communications advisor for Priorities USA.
Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, Peter joined the United States Navy and spent five years on active duty as an Intelligence Officer. He deployed twice aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, serving as collections manager for the strike group during tsunami relief operations in Indonesia. At the Joint Intelligence Center-Pacific, he was as a geopolitical analyst with a focus on the Pacific Rim region.
Peter is Vice Chair of VoteVets, Treasurer of the VetVoice Foundation, a member of the NYC Veterans Advisory Board, a Truman National Security Project Fellow, a member of the Queens Public Library Board of Trustees, and Vice President of New York Girls Baseball. Peter graduated from Franklin & Marshall College, where he played baseball.
Maggie truax
Senior Advisor
Maggie Truax is a strategic communications leader with over 15 years of experience in public affairs. She specializes in developing long-term, strategic media and public relations campaigns, and has extensive experience in crisis management. Maggie most recently served as Global Director of Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Issues Management for the world’s largest restaurant chain, Subway.
Maggie’s work with Bluejacket includes assisting a variety of corporations, non-profit organizations and candidates focusing on brand communications and public relations, executive thought leadership, issue advocacy, and political campaigns. She previously worked with the public relations firm Sunshine Sachs, where her clients ranged from celebrity chefs, to startup companies, to one of New York City’s largest hospital and healthcare networks. She also served as the Director of Public Relations for the New York City Opera.
Maggie’s political experience includes serving as Deputy Press Secretary for New York Governor David A. Paterson; Communications Director for Congressman Scott Murphy (D-NY); Communications Director for NYS Assemblyman Michael Gianaris; and various communications roles on political campaigns throughout New York City and state.
Jessie Andrews
Principal
Jessie Andrews is a career issue strategist with over a decade of government experience advising elected officials in high-risk, “Frontline” congressional districts.
Jessie has managed public policy issues and worked with stakeholder groups under the jurisdiction of nearly every House Congressional Committee and across New York State government agencies. She brings with her an exceptional track record of legislative success and advocacy in the toughest political environments in the country.
Most recently, Jessie served as Chief of Staff to New York State Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. She joined Delgado in 2018 when he became the first person of color elected to represent Upstate New York in Congress. Under both Republican and Democratic Administrations, Jessie played a key role in ushering 18 bills into law and securing top bipartisanship rankings by esteemed institutions like the Lugar Center. When Delgado was appointed to serve as Lieutenant Governor in 2022, Jessie led a team of advisors in the development of fundraising, communications, and paid media plans – resulting in decisive primary and general election victories.
Jessie is a graduate of the University of Georgia – back-to-back college football national champions – and lives in Brooklyn.
derek perkinson
Advocacy Director
Derek Perkinson is an experienced community organizer and political strategist. He has led successful advocacy campaigns on issues ranging from criminal justice reform to the 2020 Census, climate justice, criminal justice policies, dyslexia awareness, anti-gun violence issues, economic justice, voting rights, immigration policy and civic engagement.
Prior to Bluejacket, Derek served as NYS Field Director & Crisis Director for the National Action Network. In this capacity, he oversaw NAN advocacy and organizing efforts, including staff and volunteer leader efforts, the individual New York City chapters, and the 18 committees in all five boroughs. Derek also managed the House of Justice, the National Action Network’s National Headquarters in Harlem.
Before joining NAN, Derek worked at the Black Institute – a think tank and nonprofit advocacy organization – where he served as the Chief Community Organizer in New York City. Derek is a current member of Community Board 10 in Harlem.
Kathleen steinberg
Senior Advisor
Kathleen Steinberg is a veteran communications strategist with more than two decades of experience helping organizations tell their stories.
Kathleen has held a number of communications leadership positions in the non-profit sector. As Executive Director of Communications for the College Board, she led all external communications for global assessment programs such as the SAT, PSAT and Advanced Placement. In this capacity, Kathleen managed the organization’s crisis communication response on issues related to test security and administration. She has also led communications for the FOJP Service Corporation and Covenant House.
Kathleen spent close to 15 years in sports communications and marketing. As Director of Marketing Communications for Major League Baseball, Kathleen created and managed the league’s first centralized marketing communications operation. She went on to serve as Senior Director of WNBA Communications for the National Basketball Association.