Nicholas Bair, Senior Federal Policy Advisor

About

Nick Bair is a senior policy professional and attorney with extensive experience in federal civil rights enforcement, strategic partnerships, and program management. He leverages his legal background and policy expertise to develop innovative solutions to complex challenges at the intersection of civil rights, policy development, and stakeholder engagement.

At the Department of Homeland Security's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Nick leads initiatives that require coordinating across federal agencies, synthesizing complex policy issues into actionable recommendations, and building strategic relationships with diverse stakeholders. He has spearheaded nationwide compliance efforts, managed high-profile events, and developed training programs reaching over 10,000 government partners.

Nick's expertise includes:

Strategic policy development and implementation
High-profile event management and coordination
Complex negotiations and stakeholder engagement
Project management across multi-agency initiatives
Systems design and process improvement
Building and maintaining strategic partnerships

Nick is particularly skilled at bridging the gap between legal requirements and practical implementation, having successfully negotiated resolution agreements with major institutions and led cross-functional teams to redesign critical processes resulting in significant efficiency improvements.

As a licensed attorney and federal policy advisor, Nick approaches challenges with analytical rigor while maintaining a commitment to advancing equity and protecting civil rights. He thrives in fast-paced environments where he can leverage his experience to develop innovative strategies and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.

Roles

Nov 2021–Present

Current role

Policy Advisor

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

District of Columbia

• Lead the Department's Disability Access Working Group and serve as CRCL's Disability Access Coordinator for External-Facing Programs to ensure compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in DHS programs and activities.
• Engage in policy work to ensure fair and equitable treatment of individuals and guard against discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, sex, and age in DHS programs and activities.
• Review recipients of DHS financial assistance and provide technical assistance on meeting their obligations under federal civil rights laws.
• Investigate allegations of discrimination by recipients of DHS financial assistance under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Regulation 6 C.F.R. Part 19 prohibiting social service programs from discriminating on the basis of religion.
• Assist in improving language access and disability access in DHS programs and in programs of recipients of DHS financial assistance.

May 2024–Sep 2024

Former role

General Attorney

U.S. Department of Education (ED), Office of Civil Rights

District of Columbia

Temporary, part-time assignment to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights to investigate complaints of discrimination based on shared ancestry under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.