Ben Nighthorse Campbell joined the Washington, D.C. office of Holland & Knight after serving in the United States Senate from 1993-2005 and in the U.S. House from 1987-1993. Senator Campbell is one of 44 Chiefs of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.
In the 108th Congress, Senator Campbell served as a senior member of the Senate Committees on Appropriations; Energy and Natural Resources; Veterans' Affairs; Environment and Public Works; and Agriculture. He was the first American Indian in history to chair the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and was the only American Indian serving in the Senate when he retired. Senator Campbell also held the position of Deputy Majority Whip.
As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Campbell secured important funding for a wide spectrum of projects including universities, hospitals, airports, transportation projects, military construction projects, museums, agriculture, and energy and water development projects.
Senator Campbell is a recognized leader in public lands and natural resources policy. In 1991, he changed the name of the Custer Battlefield Monument in Montana to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Among other significant legislation, he sponsored the bills which created the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and the Animas-La Plata water project.
In 1997, Senator Campbell became the first American Indian to chair the Indian Affairs Committee. Under Senator Campbell’s leadership the Committee passed more legislation than at any other similar time in history. As Chairman, Senator Campbell worked collaboratively with the tribes to gain active input on proposed legislation. He passed legislation aimed at addressing Indian health, education, economic needs, sovereignty, self-governance expansion, probate reform, Indian Arts and Crafts protections, and energy development.
As a Congressman, in 1987 Senator Campbell co-authored the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which established federal standards for the conduct of gaming activities on Indian reservations and lands. Also while serving in the U.S. House, Senator Campbell introduced legislation to authorize the creation of the National Museum of the American Indian.
Throughout his career Senator Campbell has sponsored legislation to make America safer. As a former deputy sheriff, Senator Campbell knew first hand the challenges facing the law enforcement community. For example, he passed legislation to help police departments afford bulletproof vests for their officers. This legislation, ‘the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Act,’ created a matching grants program to provide bulletproof vests for police departments of all sizes. He also worked on the appropriations committee to fund important technology programs for police departments. Senator Campbell has received a number of awards from the law enforcement community.
Before entering college Senator Campbell served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951-53 (stationed in Korea) where he attained the rank of Airman 2nd Class.
Senator Campbell is a renowned jewelry designer, athlete, and trainer of champion quarter horses. He was an All-American in judo at San Jose State University and was Captain of the 1964 U.S. Olympic Judo Team. Following the Olympics Senator Campbell was an accomplished judo instructor and coach. He was elected to the Colorado State Legislature in 1982, serving for four years.