Rated Top 25 DC PR Firm by The Washington Business Journal*
About Perdicus
Who We Are
Perdicus is a high-impact, boutique public affairs and media strategy firm based in Washington DC, built at the intersection of journalism, technology and political precision. We help leaders, organizations, and coalitions navigate complexity, manage crises, and elevate their voice in the public arena—online and offline.
Rooted in investigative discipline, journalistic rigor and civic purpose, Perdicus offers a suite of 21st-century services that blend the best of traditional public affairs with cutting-edge AI technology and strategic lobbying acumen.
About Perdicus
What We Offer
Clarity in crisis, Strength in strategy
When the stakes are high and the headlines won’t wait, Perdicus PR delivers. We specialize in fast, strategic crisis communications designed to protect reputations, stabilize narratives, and restore trust when it matters most.
Our team provides rapid-response messaging to control the story before it controls you. Whether you’re facing legal scrutiny, executive controversy, misinformation, or reputational risk, we act swiftly to align communications across media, legal counsel, and internal stakeholders—ensuring consistency, clarity, and calm.
From CEOs to public figures to Fortune 500 brands, Perdicus PR has guided clients through some of their most challenging moments. We don’t just manage a crisis—we build a foundation for recovery and renewed public confidence. When the moment finds you, make sure you have the right voice. Crsis communications that protects what matters most.
Thought Leadership That Moves Minds
At Perdicus PR, we help leaders lead with their words. We clarify your message and sharpen your voice with clarity in message,with high-level narrative framing that reflects your mission, not just your moment. We provide strategic message audits and audience-specific tone reshaping. Our Thought Leadership services are built for executives, innovators, and changemakers who want to influence the conversation, not just join it.
We craft ghostwritten blogs, op-eds, and keynote speeches that reflect your voice, values, and vision—backed by deep policy literacy and narrative precision. Whether you’re launching an idea, navigating public discourse, or shaping industry dialogue, we position you as a credible, compelling voice in your field.
Our messaging is tailored for impact across platforms: sharp enough for the op-ed page, bold enough for the boardroom, and authentic enough to resonate online. Every piece we write is rooted in strategy and elevated by storytelling.
From tech founders and nonprofit leaders to CEOs and public officials, we help clients distill complex ideas into powerful, persuasive narratives that drive engagement and inspire action.
Tell your story. Shape the moment. Lead the conversation.
Strategic Influence, Bipartisan Impact
Our public affairs team members have over two decades of trusted experience in navigating the highest levels of government and industry. With a track record of advising Fortune 100 CEOs, global heads of state, and cabinet-level officials, our team delivers unparalleled insight and influence across party lines.
Whether you’re seeking to shape policy, enter new markets, or build critical relationships, our team can provide a tailored, strategic approach grounded in deep knowledge of both domestic and international affairs. Our expertise spans sectors including technology, healthcare, energy, defense, education, transportation, financial services and philanthropy.
At Perdicus, we understand that success in today’s complex environment requires more than access—it requires trust, credibility, and results. We work hand-in-hand with clients to anticipate challenges, seize opportunities, and drive meaningful outcomes.
Global perspective. Bipartisan strategy. Measurable impact. Where Policy Meets Possibility.
Let’s build something that matters.
We help organizations build trust, mobilize communities, and drive real impact—starting from the ground up. Our Civic Engagement & Community Strategy practice is built for change makers who want to elevate unheard voices, shape public dialogue, and activate support where it matters most. Whether you’re launching a new initiative, responding to a crisis, or building long-term civic goodwill, we design campaigns that resonate—deeply and locally.
We specialize in:
- Ground-up organizing to engage stakeholders and inspire action
- Narrative design that empowers underrepresented voices and reframes public perception
- Hyper local listening, cultural insights, and community-informed messaging
From town halls and listening sessions to multilingual outreach and message testing, we meet communities where they are—with respect, authenticity, and clarity.
If you want to earn trust, shift hearts and minds, and build lasting engagement, Perdicus is your partner.
Lets Talk!
Why Perdicus?
At Perdicus, we don’t just write your story—we position you in the broader narrative. We think like journalists, strategize like lobbyists, and operate with the digital fluency of a modern campaign.
Whether you’re facing a reputational crisis, seeking to build long-term policy influence, or ready to amplify your voice using the most advanced AI media tools available, we’re your partner in precision, clarity, and public impact
Where We Lead with Innovation
We help master modern commmunications in the Age of AI.
The communications industry is changing at breakneck speed. From the rise of generative AI to shrinking PR budgets, today’s communicators are navigating a transformed landscape where the rules are being rewritten in real time. AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini are increasingly shaping how the public discovers and understands your brand. That means your digital presence—and the content you share—must be intentional, strategic, and optimized for both human audiences and machine learning systems, which can also target only the journalists impacting your narrative. We help you stay ahead in a media landscape transformed by AI and digital noise. Whether you’re building a growth-stage company or amplifying your personal brand, we bring clarity, control, and strategic impact to your communications
Our digital strategy combines human insight with AI-powered tools to help you:
- Understand how AI shapes your brand reputation—and how to manage it proactively
- Train AI platforms using strategic press releases to reinforce the story you want told
- Offset negative online chatter (like Reddit posts) with authoritative, branded content
- Maximize reach and credibility through targeted, multi-channel distribution
- Stretch your PR budget with high-impact, cost-conscious tactics
We also offer cutting-edge tools to elevate your digital presence:
- Post-edited AI content generation – Create at scale with quality and authenticity
- Digital Twin Technology – Develop intelligent avatars of key spokespeople for outreach
- AI-driven engagement – Use real-time optimization, response simulation, and tracking
- Multi-platform narrative tracking – Monitor your message across channels and adapt with precision
At Perdicus, we don’t just follow trends—we help you lead them. Let us show you how to use technology to strengthen your brand, sharpen your voice, and drive results where they matter most.
Who We Serve
Strategic Communications for Bold, Mission-Driven Leaders
Crisis-Prone Institutions and Legacy Brands
In moments of reputational risk or reinvention, we act swiftly and strategically to protect what you’ve built and position you for what’s next.
Nonprofits, Foundations, and Advocacy Coalitions
From grassroots campaigns to national movements, we help purpose-driven groups amplify their impact, mobilize support, and turn mission into momentum
Startups and Tech Innovators Entering Regulated Spaces
Launching a disruptive idea? We translate complex innovations into clear, compelling stories—building trust with regulators, investors, and the public.
Media-Facing Executives and Subject Matter Experts
We elevate thought leaders and spokespeople, placing you in the right media, with the right message, at the right time—so your expertise shapes the conversation.
Public Figures, Candidates, and Elected Officials
We craft narratives that resonate, build coalitions , and guide you to the spotlight—whether you’re running for office, or defending your reputation.
Meet The Team
Our Team Members
John Arundel is the Managing Director of Perdicus Communications, a Washington, D.C.-based strategic PR and media firm serving a diverse portfolio of global clients, including CEO'S, non-profits, humanitarian organizations, tech innovators, and public figures.
A native Washingtonian and graduate of Duke University, John did his graduate work at Stanford University and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He brings over 30 years of experience in media, finance, and communications, having written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Miami Herald, and reported from the Middle East during the Persian Gulf War. He was mentored by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Maureen Dowd and Thomas L. Friedman.
John spent a decade as Vice President of Investments at Citigroup Global Markets, before founding The Alexandria Times, a multi-award-winning weekly newspaper. He later served as and editor and Associate Publisher of Washington Life Magazine, profiling leaders in business, philanthropy, and the arts, and covering more than 2,000 high-profile events across the National Capital Region.
His family has deep civic roots in the Washington area, having founded and published 21 local newspapers and supported major cultural and educational institutions including George Mason University, the Marine Corps Museum and Great Meadow.
A committed community leader, John has served on the boards of the Kennedy Center’s Camelot Circle, Living Classrooms of Washington, and the Rotary Club of Alexandria. He is the proud father of two children.
A native Washingtonian and graduate of Duke University, John did his graduate work at Stanford University and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He brings over 30 years of experience in media, finance, and communications, having written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Miami Herald, and reported from the Middle East during the Persian Gulf War. He was mentored by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Maureen Dowd and Thomas L. Friedman.
John spent a decade as Vice President of Investments at Citigroup Global Markets, before founding The Alexandria Times, a multi-award-winning weekly newspaper. He later served as and editor and Associate Publisher of Washington Life Magazine, profiling leaders in business, philanthropy, and the arts, and covering more than 2,000 high-profile events across the National Capital Region.
His family has deep civic roots in the Washington area, having founded and published 21 local newspapers and supported major cultural and educational institutions including George Mason University, the Marine Corps Museum and Great Meadow.
A committed community leader, John has served on the boards of the Kennedy Center’s Camelot Circle, Living Classrooms of Washington, and the Rotary Club of Alexandria. He is the proud father of two children.
Maria Sheehan is also a born and raised Washingtonian, the daughter of two legendary Pulitzer Prize winning journalists for the New York Times and The New Yorker. Maria and John met while working at the New York Times. Maria is a former VP at Hill & Knowlton and Burson-Marstellar, two leading global public relations firms, serving corporate and international clients in Europe and the Middle East. Maria is a graduate of Wellesley College with a BA in European History and earned her executive MBA at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business.
Emma Jane Goodman O'Rourke is an award-winning multidisciplinary Artist and Art Director originally from London. Emma gained her Bachelor's degree in Fashion, Art and Design at Central Saint Martin's College of Art, University of the Arts, London. A published photographer and writer, Emma has worked extensively in the music, beauty and beverage industries creating artwork, styling, magazine and flyer design for New Gen Music Group, Wella, Coca-Cola, Bacardi Spice, Smirnoff Ice, Foster's Lager, Perrier and Schweppes. With over 25 years experience working as a Senior Art Director of Momentum BBDO, Dynamo Marketing, Smartteam, Alluvus and Hager Sharp, Emma has also created high-impact campaigns for British Telecom, The American Chemical Society, PN Hoffman, Coalition Of Hope, the National Foundation for Cancer Research, and the National Diabetes Education Program.
Blogs
Latest News
- Hillbilly Elegy Meets The Hounds: Secret Service Puts the Brakes on a 120-year Middleburg Tradition
- The Turkish Caterer that Saved Donald Trump’s Life
- DC POLICY PULSE / Iran’s Greatest Strategic Weapon Isn’t Its Missiles. It’s Memory.
- After the World Cup, is Polo ready for its Global Moment?
- DC POLICY PULSE / Stranger Than Fiction: Trump’s Summer White House Correspondents’ Dinner Was…
- DC POLICY PULSE/ From Social Media to Wall Street: Is Trump Media Becoming America’s Most…
- DC POLICY PULSE /America Wants AI. It Just Doesn’t Want the Data Center Next Door.
- JFK and Jackie’s Weekend Escape in Virginia’s Hunt Country
- JD Vance, Meet Horse Country
- DC POLICY PULSE/Washington Just Redrew the AI Map
- FIFA Mania Has America Hooked
- DC POLICY PULSE/As AI Power Demand Surges, the Trump Administration Backs Major Energy-Backed…
- Robert Duvall in Virginia: The Hollywood Legend Among Us
Lets Talk!
Schedule a confidential consultation or learn how Perdicus can support your mission:
Let’s secure your future with the right choice.
Clients
Our Clients
Phone
Address
950 Maine Avenue, SW, Suite 350W
Washington, D.C. 20024
Copyright 2025 Perdicus.