John Norris

Executive Director, Sustainable Security and Peacebuilding Initiative

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Expertise: International development, global conflict, human rights, United Nations

John Norris is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Security and Peacebuilding Initiative at 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.

John previously served as the Executive Director of the Enough Project at American Progress and was the chief of political affairs for the U.N. 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 Mary McGrory: The First Queen of Journalism, a biography of the late journalist, and the Disaster Gypsies, a memoir of his work in the field of emergency relief. John has published commentary in scores of outlets including, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, and elsewhere. He has a graduate degree in public administration.