John was commissioned as a Field Artillery officer in 1970. He proudly served 30 years as a Soldier in a variety of command and staff positions including Commander of 4th Battalion 5th Field Artillery Battalion,1st Infantry Division during Operation Desert Storm and commanding the 1st Armored Division Artillery, Baumholder, Germany.
Following command, he was assigned to the Pentagon as Division Chief in DCSOPS. His next assignment was as Executive Officer to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe in Bosnia-Herzegovina; returning to the Pentagon he assumed the duties of Executive Officer to VCSA; followed by assignment as the Director, CSA, Strategic Planning Group. Upon retirement as a Colonel in 2001, John was appointed a member of the Senior Executive Service, as the Director, Army Strategic Communications Initiatives.
From 2003 to 2009, John served as President of Strategic LINX, providing senior executive consulting services in the Department of Defense, for large corporations, for non-profit humanitarian organizations, and for Veteran Service Organizations. In January 2009 he became a presidential appointee as the Chief of Staff for the Department of Veterans Affairs where one of his major responsibilities was to chair the task force for Gulf War issues. In April 2013, he returned to his consulting responsibilities.
