John Norris is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Security and Peacebuilding Initiative at the Center for American Progress. He has served in a number of senior roles in government, international institutions, and nonprofits. In 2014, John was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Global Development Council, a body charged with advising the administration on effective development practices. He also serves as Chair of the Advisory Board for the Tent Foundation.
John previously served as the Executive Director of the Enough Project and was the chief of political affairs for the United Nations Mission in Nepal. Previously, John served as the Washington chief of staff for the International Crisis Group, and as the director of communications for U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott. He also worked as a speechwriter and field disaster expert at the U.S. Agency for International Development. John is the author of several books, including a biography of the late journalist Mary McGrory which was a finalist for the LA Times Book Award. He has a graduate degree in public administration.