Fred Turner, Menendez chief of staff, joins D.C. lobbying firm

Bob Menendez’s chief of staff is leaving to join a Washington lobbying firm.

Fred Turner, Menendez’s top Capitol Hill aide for the last seven years, is joining BGR Group, a Washington firm founded by former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour.  He’ll be a senior vice president as part of the International Affairs practice and will also help with clients in the Financial Services and Commerce groups.

Menendez, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, praised his outgoing staffer.

“I have benefited immensely from Fred’s policy expertise and political acumen in every facet of my operation. He has been at my side for many years, and at the end of the day, he is a trusted voice of reason and ultimately policy and electoral success,” Menendez said.  “I have no doubt that Fred will continue to be that valuable voice to his new colleagues, and to me, in the months and years ahead.”

Prior to working for Menendez, Turner served as chief of staff at the U.S. Helsinki Commission, spent a dozen years working for Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Florida), as legislative director for Rep. Karen McCarthy (D-Missouri), and as an associate staff member of the House Rules Committee.

“Fred Turner is a maestro of Capitol Hill,” Hastings said. “In his over 25 years of service, Fred has been what some would call a servant leader. He has an infectious enthusiasm and a get-things-done personality.”