Biography

John’s experience in senior Texas and federal governmental posts and as an attorney in the private sector have given him a unique perspective and expertise in handling complex state and federal environmental, natural resource, and energy policy issues. He assists businesses, local governments, and coalitions on successfully navigating and advocating before the White House, the Texas Legislature, and state and federal agencies.

John served in the Bush Administration for eight years in several senior roles. He was Governor Bush’s Environment and Natural Resources Policy Director, where he crafted policy initiatives and assisted with significant environmental and energy legislation. As a volunteer, John helped draft presidential campaign policies and the Republican National Committee’s 2000 Convention policy on the environment, natural resources, and energy. In Washington, D.C., he led the Bush-Cheney 2000 Transition’s environmental team. John served as the Senior Associate Director (the Chairman’s deputy for policy) for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, where he assisted in developing President Bush’s energy plan and environmental, natural resource, and energy policies. John also served as President Bush’s Federal Environmental Executive.

In his federal roles, John worked extensively with the various offices within the White House and with many federal agencies, including EPA, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, State, Defense, Energy, and GSA. He led and participated in interagency councils on energy, the POPs and Basel treaties, climate change, corporate average fuel economy, environmental metrics, green building, electronic waste, Clear Skies and air quality, stewardship and sustainability. He also represented the White House at the COP6 bis in Bonn in 2001 on climate change.

Since returning to private practice, John has assisted clients in developing and implementing environmental and natural resource policy strategies. On federal matters, he has counseled businesses and the preeminent green building coalition on proactively telling their story, developing relationships, and timely identifying policy opportunities for advancing public policy. In Texas, John has advised clients on legislative and administrative issues concerning water rights and water infrastructure, air quality, waste disposal, and research and development funding.

In January 2006, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Steve Johnson named John as chair of the National Advisory Council on Environmental Policy and Technology, which will advise the Administrator on such issues as water infrastructure, cooperative conservation, environmental stewardship, EPA's strategic architecture and plan, and the interface between energy and the environment.