John Howard was born in Chicago and raised in Washington DC.  For over 21 years, John Howard held several positions of increasing responsibility in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s International Division.  Those positions included, but are not limited to, Director and, later, Vice President of International Policy; International Division Staff Director; Executive Director of the U.S. Chamber’s International Policy Committee.  In these capacities, Mr. Howard was instrumental in the U.S. Chamber’s implementation of its lobbying and coalition efforts to advance its international policy goals.   

 

From 2009 forward and following a professional sabbatical during which Mr. Howard earned a master's degree in business administration, Mr. Howard taught high school business education courses and served as an adjunct professor in the fields of business and finance.  Mr. Howard also earned several IT and cybersecurity certificates and has trained federal contractors how to comply with NIST cybersecurity guidelines.

 

During his U.S. Chamber tenure, Mr. Howard:
 

• Managed U.S. Chamber of Commerce international business advocacy programs, activities and relationships.  Managed Chamber Board of Director’s International Policy Committee meetings and agendas.  Primary responsibilities included: meeting and event planning, membership recruitment and service, corporate briefings, task force creation and management, lobbying, legislative drafting, Congressional testimony, media relations. 
   

• Performed in-depth analysis of complex legislative and regulatory rules and proposals. Proposed and secured adoption of U.S. Chamber international trade and investment policy positions for implementation in the United States and abroad.  Wrote and presented position papers, recommendations and testimony to U.S. and foreign policymakers.

 

• Launched and participated in the Americans for Humanitarian Trade with Cuba coalition, created for the purpose of changing U.S. law and building business networks to allow and facilitate U.S.-Cuba trade in food and medicine.

 

• Developed and implemented prototype grass-roots outreach program designed to inform and mobilize local constituencies in support of defined public policy objectives.  Briefed U.S. and international CEOs and other senior corporate executives. ​

 

• Served as Staff Advisor (liaison) to the Presidential Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN).  Provided advice to executive branch appointees and senior staff concerning the negotiation and operation of trade agreements, resolution of trade disputes, and other matters pertaining to international trade for which there needed to be a policy response. (2003-2006) 

 

• Served as Member, Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State.  Primary OSAC objectives include development of effective security communication networks for U.S. businesses, academia, faith-based groups, and non-governmental organizations. Served on OSAC Country Council Oversight Committee with responsibility for strengthening security cooperation between the U.S. government and American Chambers of Commerce abroad. 

 

Education

 

Master of Business Administration in Finance, Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Certificate, Executive Leadership Program, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York

 

Professional Affiliations

Member, Senior Advisory Committee, Overseas Security Advisory Council, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State