For many members of NAFUSA, service to the Department of Justice does not end
when a presidential commission expires. Many former U.S. Attorneys continue to stay
connected, either formally or informally, to the offices they once led, offering
encouragement, perspective, and practical support to the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who
carry forward the daily work of federal prosecution. NAFUSA members often remain
connected to their former districts by attending office events, participating in reunions,
speaking with new prosecutors, and making themselves available as informal sounding
boards. That members are doing this is no surprise. Since its inception, NAFUSA has
been rooted in personal relationships: the professional bonds formed inside U.S.
Attorney’s Offices, the respect for career prosecutors, and the shared understanding
that the strength of the federal justice system depends on the people who serve within
it.

Examples of NAFUSA members’ engagement with prosecutors in their former offices
include Peter Vaira, who started an organization for former AUSAs from the Eastern
District of Pennsylvania. The informal group invites AUSAs leaving office to join and
organizes and sponsors an annual cocktail party each year. The key function is to help
former AUSAs keep track of each other when they leave office and facilitate continued
relationships with former colleagues.

Also, NAFUSA board member Ken Weinstein shared a letter that former colleagues of
Bob Mueller from his time as an AUSA in the District of Columbia U.S. Attorney’s Office
Homicide Division drafted and posted on the website of the D.C. AUSA Association.
The letter is a morale booster and reinforces the importance of the work done by
AUSAs in that Division and how proud Mueller was of his service there.

Bob Mueller Letter

NAFUSA member and former board member Johnny Sutton’s recollections of the memorable showdown between rival college baseball teams for the University of Texas and the University of Alabama were featured in the SEC Network’s documentary Summer of ‘83: Texas vs Tide. The documentary, which aired on April 15, revisited one of college baseball’s most memorable showdowns, spotlighting not just the rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide, but also the individuals who defined the series. Sutton was a player on the 1983 Texas Longhorns baseball team, and he is one of the people interviewed for the film reflecting on that memorable College World Series run.

Although Sutton may not have been one of the biggest stars and he didn’t pursue a career in the major leagues, like Roger Clemens, his story is part of the documentary’s narrative. Sutton played left field in the post season line-up and was named regional MVP as the Longhorns went on to win the college world series. The documentary captured pivotal moments both on and off the field, showcasing the team members during critical points in their journey to the College World Series and the determination that fueled their success. In the interviews featured in the documentary, Sutton reflected on the intensity of the matchup with Alabama, describing the pressure and excitement that surrounded the games.

Here is a link to the tralier:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1443684817251860

Scott Brady, NAFUSA member and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of
Pennsylvania from 2017 to 2021, has been named by Vice President Vance as
executive director of the newly established White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
In this new role, he will oversee efforts to detect, prevent, and prosecute fraud across
government agencies.

The White House Task Force was formed in response to increasing concerns about
fraudulent activities affecting government programs and public resources. As executive
director, Brady will coordinate with various federal departments, law enforcement
agencies, and external partners to develop comprehensive strategies aimed at
safeguarding taxpayer dollars and restoring trust in government operations.

Prior to his appointment as Executive Director, Brady was a partner at Jones Day from
2021 to 2023 and later served as the Chief Compliance Officer for Wabtec Corporation
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most recently he served as Special Counsel to the U. S.
Department of Health and Human Services.

Seated from left front circling over to end at the front right:

Charles (“Charlie”) E. Peeler (Troutman Pepper), former U.S. Attorney for the Middle (Macon) District of Georgia (2017-2020)

Theodore (“Teddy”) S. Hertzberg, U.S. Attorney for the Northern (Atlanta) District of Georgia (2025-present)

Michael J. Moore (Moore Hall, LLC), former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia (2010–2015)

William (“Will”) R. Keyes, U.S. Attorney for the Middle (Macon) District of Georgia (2025-present)

Judge William S. Duffey, Jr.; former U.S. Attorney for the Northern (Atlanta) District of Georgia (2001-2004)

Joe D. Whitley (Womble Bond Dickinson, LLP), former U.S. Attorney for the Northern (Atlanta) District of Georgia (1990-1993) and former U.S. Attorney for the Middle (Macon) District of Georgia (1981-1987)

Ryan K. Buchanan (McGuire Woods), former U.S. Attorney for the Northern (Atlanta) District of Georgia (2022-2025)

Peter D. Leary (Troutman Pepper), former U.S. Attorney for the Middle (Macon) District of Georgia (2022-2025)

Robert (“Bob”) L. Barr, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern (Atlanta) District of Georgia (1986-1990)

Sally Q, Yates (King & Spalding), former U.S. Attorney for the Northern (Atlanta) District of Georgia (2010-2015)

Erin Nealy Cox, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas from 2017 to 2021 and NAFUSA Board of Directors member, will join retail giant Walmart on April 13 as it’s chief legal officer, executive vice president of global governance, and corporate secretary. She will succeed former DOJ official, and NAFUSA member, Rachel Brand, who stepped down as Walmart’s legal chief in January after having served in that position for nearly eight years. Prior to her appointment at Walmart, Nealy Cox served as a partner at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis, where she specialized in cybersecurity, workplace compliance, and government regulatory and internal investigations.

Nealy Cox’s experience is expected to significantly strengthen Walmart’s legal and regulatory teams. In her new role, she will work with new president and CEO John Furner as the top lawyer for the “biggest private employer in the U.S.” and will oversee a range of matters including corporate compliance, ethics, and risk management, helping to guide Walmart as it navigates an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

Upcoming Events

Spring Board Meeting

The NAFUSA Board of Directors will convene for its annual spring meeting on April 10-11, 2026, at the Mountain Shadows Resort located just outside of Scottsdale, Arizona. During this gathering, the Board will focus on developing the program for the 2026 Annual Conference, which is scheduled to take place in St. Louis, Missouri, in October. Additionally, the Board will address other important NAFUSA business matters.

Membership Dues Reminder

If you have not yet paid your 2026 NAFUSA membership dues, please remember to do so. For any questions regarding membership, you are encouraged to reach out to Lisa Rafferty.

Conference Sponsorship Information

The names and contribution levels of sponsors for the 2026 Annual Conference will be posted on the NAFUSA website as they are received. Please take a moment to thank both our returning and new sponsors for their generous support of the organization and its annual conference. If you or your firm have not yet become a sponsor, please consider joining in support of NAFUSA.

NAFUSA welcomed Louisiana native Brandon Fremin as a new member in February. Brandon served as U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana (MDLA) from 2018 to 2021 under President Trump. A former Marine, Brandon served as an Assistant District Attorney in the 19th Judicial District of Louisiana,

Director of the Criminal Division for the Louisiana Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the MDLA prior to his appointment as U.S. Attorney. He is currently Managing Director at Talbot, Carmouche & Marcello.

Former NAFUSA president Paul Coggins is back in the spotlight with his latest book
“Chasing the Chameleon” which is set for release March 6. Paul, who served as U.S.
Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, is both a successful criminal defense attorney
and an award-winning author. His legal thrillers reflect his courtroom and criminal law
experience as well as his knack for telling a good story, a trait many NAFUSA members have
witnessed. His latest book, which has already received positive reviews, continues the
series he has written featuring the adventures of fictional Dallas defense attorney Cash
McCahill.

Paul, who is the current NAFUSA Foundation President, clearly enjoys the intersection of practicing law and writing stories about it. According to him, “Being a federal prosecutor is the best job in the world. Writing about them is the second-best job.”

NAFUSA member Michael Dunavant was sworn in -again- on October 10, 2025, as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. Mike served in the first Trump administration from 2017-2021 and is the first person to serve that district twice as the Presidential appointee. He served as the Deputy Executive Director of Legal Services & Policy for the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference prior to his reappointment as U.S. Attorney.