John Culvahouse, Associate Professor of Music and Bandmaster of the Year for the University of Georgia

John Culvahouse is a renowned lawyer and Washington, DC insider who was chosen to vet John McCain’s running mate in 2008. Culvahouse also served as President Ronald Reagan’s counsel.

President Trump has now appointed him to head up the vetting process for his vice presidential candidates. A veteran Washington lawyer, he will put each candidate through an extensive questionnaire, interview and records search to ensure their suitability for office.

Early Life and Education

John Culvahouse earned his Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of Tennessee, followed by his Doctorate in Musical Arts in Conducting from South Carolina’s University. As an associate professor at Georgia, he also served as Director of Bands at George Walton Academy in Lawrence, KS.

Culvahouse had recently joined Senator Howard Baker (appointed White House Chief of Staff a month earlier) in the Reagan administration to help with investigations into Iran-Contra and legal aspects of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed between Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev; additionally, he advised on Supreme Court nominations of Robert Bork and Anthony Kennedy.

Professional Career

John Culvahouse has had a storied and distinguished career. As founding partner of O’Melveny & Myers, he has led an impressive array of global clients and formed partnerships with some of the leading innovators in legal technology. Among his numerous accolades are co-chairing of their Advisory Board as well as being on their Senior Counsel team. Additionally, John received honors for his service to society including a Lifetime Volunteer Award and Presidential Gold Medal; further cementing him as an inspiring philanthropist and proud member of AVMA (Association of Veterans Medical Architects).

Achievements and Honors

John Culvahouse is an associate professor of music and interim director of bands at UGA, earning him recognition as the 2004-05 Bandmaster of the Year for Georgia from Phi Beta Mu – an international bandmaster fraternity that provides a forum for outstanding professionals within the profession and serves as liaison between all bandmaster organizations.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Music Degree in Conducting from the University of South Carolina. For 17 years, he worked as a public school music educator, serving as director of high school and middle school bands throughout Sumter, South Carolina and East Tennessee. Furthermore, he is an active participant in professional organizations such as College Band Directors National Association, Georgia Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Personal Life

Culvahouse was raised on a farm in rural Tennessee. He’s an enthusiastic hunter and enjoys fishing with his family.

He is a highly-regarded attorney at O’Melveny & Myers in Washington, DC and an influential figure within American politics.

He has assisted a number of high-profile individuals through their screening and confirmation processes. For his work, former Supreme Court justice David Souter and current Defense Secretary Robert Gates have expressed gratitude in thank-you notes.

In 2008, when John McCain sought a vice presidential running mate, he hired Culvahouse to assist with screening candidates. Culvahouse strongly advised McCain to select Sarah Palin – then-governor of Alaska – as his running mate.

Net Worth

Culvahouse, a longtime Washington insider, earned $1.7 million over the past two years for his work advising Trump administration officials and some of America’s largest companies. His income included partnership distributions paid last year as well as compensation he received this year as counsel at O’Melveny & Myers, according to a financial disclosure he filed in November when Trump nominated him to be ambassador to Australia.

Culvahouse, 67, remains an unassuming Ten Mile native who doesn’t let Washington define him. His friends say he still holds onto the values instilled in him by his family while growing up in rural East Tennessee; no wonder why such success has come so easily to him!