Kenneth Hardy
Policy Director for Public Safety and Legal Counsels
Kenneth Hardy serves as Policy Director for Public Safety and Legal Counsels in the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices. He oversees the Governors’ Criminal Justice Policy Advisors network, the Consortium of State Public Safety Executives, and the Governors’ Legal Counsel network, while also guiding NGA’s broader work on state artificial intelligence governance.
The Public Safety and Legal Counsels Program supports governors and their staff in developing data-driven, evidence-based solutions to complex public safety and legal challenges. The portfolio includes criminal justice, violence prevention, victim services, corrections, law enforcement recruitment and retention, reentry, government process, and technology. He also helps governors’ offices navigate emerging AI policy issues, including government use of AI, state regulation, and federal preemption.
Ken’s experience spans state government, legislative affairs, and public policy. Before joining NGA, he worked at The Pew Charitable Trusts, where he led state legislative and policy initiatives and managed the projects consultants and lobbyists resulting in the passage of several bi-partisan reform packages. In his previous roles as Legal Counsel and Policy Director to the Maine Speaker of the House and Senate President, he directed legislation through the legislative process and helped shape leadership policy agendas.
He holds a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and a B.A. in Government and History from Skidmore College.