Magnuson brings more than 25 years of congressional experience and deep expertise in appropriations, national security, defense, military construction, and veterans affairs.
For Immediate Release: September 9, 2026
Contact: Andrew Rosenberg, (202) 247-6301 (arosenberg@thornrun.com)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thorn Run Partners (“TRP”), one of the nation’s leading bipartisan government affairs firms, announced today the addition of Patrick R. Magnuson as a Partner, further strengthening the firm’s appropriations and national security capabilities.
Magnuson joins TRP with more than 25 years of experience on Capitol Hill, most recently serving as Majority Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. In that role, he led the development of annual funding legislation supporting military construction projects around the world and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Throughout his Senate career, Magnuson worked closely with Senate leadership, committee members, House counterparts, and Administration officials to advance complex funding and policy priorities across defense, veterans affairs, and other national security accounts. His extensive experience navigating the congressional appropriations process will further enhance TRP’s ability to help clients understand and engage effectively on federal funding and policy decisions.
Before becoming Staff Director, Magnuson served as a Professional Staff Member on the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, where he analyzed military construction accounts across the Department of Defense and other national security agencies and advised the Chairman and committee members on funding priorities. Earlier in his career, he served as Legislative Director to then-U.S. Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois, managing the Senator’s Washington legislative operation and advising on appropriations and national security matters.
“We are thrilled to add Patrick and his enormous institutional knowledge to the value we currently provide our clients, both within our national security practice and without. The appropriations process has never been more important, and Patrick is among the most respected experts in the city,” said TRP Co-Founder Andrew Rosenberg.
“I’m fortunate to have spent the last 25 years in a variety of positions on Capitol Hill working with and learning from dedicated and knowledgeable people. No matter how Congress changes, enacting appropriations will always remain its core responsibility and I’m excited to bring my experience to such a dynamic firm and their clients ,” said Patrick Magnuson.
Magnuson began his career on then-Congressman Kirk’s first campaign for Congress in 2000 before joining his congressional office in 2001. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He was selected for the John C. Stennis Congressional Staff Fellows Program for the 118th Congress and has received multiple public service honors, including awards from the Departments of the Army and Navy and Disabled American Veterans.
His addition continues Thorn Run Partners’ strategic growth across key practice areas and expands the firm’s depth of experience in appropriations, defense, veterans affairs, and national security policy.
About Thorn Run Partners
Founded in January 2010 by veteran lobbyists Andrew Rosenberg and Chris Lamond, who previously served as staffers to Senators Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Fred Thompson (R-TN), respectively, Thorn Run Partners is a full-service government relations, policy, and strategic communications firm with offices in Washington, DC, Portland, OR, and Los Angeles, CA. It has been recognized as a Top 10 lobbying firm by respected publications including Politico, The Hill, and Bloomberg, and ranks among the nation’s most creative and effective government relations firms.
