Desmarie Waterhouse

Desmarie Waterhouse is Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Communications & General Counsel at the American Public Power Association (“APPA”). At APPA, she leads the association’s advocacy efforts before Congress, federal agencies, and the White House on a variety of issues impacting public power, including energy, environmental, tax, and grid security issues. She has many years of experience in government affairs, both as a congressional staffer and as a lobbyist. She also leads APPA’s communications efforts, relaying the value of public power utilities to the communities they serve, and the impact federal policies can have on their ability to provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity. In addition, she serves as the association’s general counsel.

Prior to joining APPA, she was Director of Government Affairs for Ygomi LLC, an international holding and operating company for technology services. There she worked on spectrum, broadband, and transportation issues. Ms. Waterhouse has also worked for a boutique lobbying firm where she provided clients with strategic advice on the development and implementation of their government relations agenda and at National Public Radio (“NPR”).

She worked on Capitol Hill, beginning her career with Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, then moving over to the House of Representatives and working for Representative Karen McCarthy handling issues coming before the House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee, of which the Congresswoman was a member.

Ms. Waterhouse graduated from Duke University with a BA in political science and history. She spent part of her junior year studying abroad in Florence, Italy, where she studied Florentine art and Italian literature. She also holds a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University and a JD from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. Ms. Waterhouse is licensed to practice law in Maryland.

Areas of Responsibility