Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Oren Cass

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: February 22, 2026

Discover the career path of Oren Cass, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Oren Cass is an American public policy commentator and political advisor. He is the founder of American Compass, a conservative think tank established in 2020. Cass's work focuses on public policy issues and reflects a conservative perspective.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2008: Worked on Mitt Romney 2008 presidential campaign

In 2008, Oren Cass took a six-month leave from Bain & Company to work on the Mitt Romney 2008 presidential campaign.

2011: Domestic-policy director for Romney

In 2011, Oren Cass became domestic-policy director for Romney while still in law school.

2012: Returned to Bain & Company

After Romney's defeat in the 2012 election, Oren Cass returned to Bain & Company and started writing on environmental and labor policy for National Review.

2012: Hired as a domestic policy advisor for Romney

In 2012, Oren Cass was hired as a domestic policy advisor for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

2012: Worked on Mitt Romney's Presidential Campaign

In 2012, Oren Cass worked on Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

2015: Senior Fellow at Manhattan Institute

In 2015, Oren Cass became a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.

2015: Joined Manhattan Institute

In 2015, Oren Cass joined the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research as a senior fellow and was named to Politico's list of top 50 "thinkers, doers and visionaries transforming American politics in 2015".

2018: Published "The Once and Future Worker"

In 2018, Oren Cass published his book, "The Once and Future Worker", which reevaluated American society, economics, and public policy.

2019: Senior Fellow at Manhattan Institute

In 2019, Oren Cass was a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.

February 2020: Established American Compass

In February 2020, Oren Cass established American Compass, an organization aimed at the question of "what the post-Trump right-of-center is going to be."

2020: Founded American Compass

In 2020, Oren Cass founded American Compass, a conservative think tank.

July 2024: American Compass Joins Project 2025 Advisory Board

As of July 2024, American Compass was a member of the advisory board of Project 2025, and Cass is thanked for his contribution to Chapter 18: "Department of Labor and Related Agencies."

2024: American Compass Laid Out Economic Policies

Ahead of the 2024 election, American Compass laid out a set of economic policies intended for a second Trump administration.

2025: Project 2025

In 2025, Project 2025 aims to reshape the United States federal government and consolidate executive power should the Republican nominee win the 2024 presidential election, with American Compass on the advisory board.