At its October 2026 annual conference in St. Louis, Missouri, the National Association of Former United States Attorneys (NAFUSA) elected Rick Hartunian, partner at Barclay Damon and former United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, vice president of the organization for 2027. Rick previously served as the organization’s secretary and has held several leadership roles within NAFUSA, including treasurer, since joining its board of directors in 2019.
Established in 1979, NAFUSA brings together former United States Attorneys to safeguard the integrity, independence, and litigating authority of the Office of the United States Attorney. Each year, the organization convenes its members for a conference focused on education, information sharing, and sustaining the professional relationships built during their service with the US Department of Justice (DOJ). The 2027 conference will take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Rick served as US Attorney for the Northern District of New York from 2010 through 2017, capping a 20-year career with the DOJ. During his tenure, he held national leadership positions as a member, vice chair, and chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of US Attorneys, advising DOJ leadership on the full range of criminal and civil issues affecting US Attorneys’ Offices nationwide.
At Barclay Damon, Rick is a partner in the White Collar & Government Investigations and Commercial Litigation & Complex Trials Practice Areas and is resident in the firm’s Albany and New York City offices. Drawing on two decades as lead government counsel in high-profile, high-stakes criminal and civil disputes, he defends clients against allegations of white-collar crime, health care fraud, BSA/AML violations, and environmental and defense procurement fraud. He also helps clients manage crises arising from litigation and government enforcement, particularly investigations involving multiple agencies and jurisdictions.