John Ullyot
John Ullyot
John Ullyot is a senior communications counsel with extensive experience in strategic counsel, media relations and issues management. He has led strategic engagements with some of the world’s most respected government leaders, political candidates, companies and CEOs on a wide variety of high-profile issues.
A veteran of the Marine Corps and Harvard, he has served as a public affairs and media consultant for numerous organizations, including the White House National Security Council. He has also served as communications director for two Senate Committees, Veterans’ Affairs and Armed Services.
Early Life and Education
The early years of a child’s life are an important time to set them up for future success. The development of their brains and cognitive skills are crucial during this period, as is their social, emotional and moral outlook.
Children who receive quality care, stimulation and nurture during this critical time have better health, educational achievement and lower rates of crime and dependence when they grow up.
UNESCO believes that investing in healthy early childhood development and education is one of the best investments a nation can make. It can lead to better economic productivity, greater responsible citizenship and a strong, healthy community, as well as successful parenting.
The Department of Education’s Office of Early Learning offers a wealth of resources to help parents and caregivers understand the importance of early learning and what they can do to support their child’s development. These resources include early literacy resources, family tools for building social and emotional skills, and Vroom, an app that helps turn everyday moments into fun brain-building experiences.
Professional Career
John Ullyot is an experienced professional in the world of strategic counsel, media relations and issues management. He has spent more than two decades working on some of the most important issues and high-profile personalities in the world.
He has served as a senior policy adviser to two veteran Senators, a White House deputy assistant and communications head for two Senate committees – Veterans’ Affairs and Armed Services. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government-International Relations from Harvard University and is a Marine with long service as an intelligence officer and Scout Sniper Platoon Commander.
He joined the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2017 as assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs. A source close to Ullyot said he left the department after only two years but was asked by President Donald Trump and National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien to return.
Achievements and Honors
John Ullyot has worked in public relations and messaging for over 20 years. He has served in senior communications roles at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, AOL Europe and Intel.
He also serves as a managing partner at Brighton Strategy Group. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Government-International Relations from Harvard University and served as an intelligence officer and Scout Sniper Platoon Commander in the United States Marine Corps.
President Trump reportedly picked Ullyot to serve as assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs at VA. However, early reports erroneously reported that Ullyot would replace Scott Blackburn who presently serves as deputy secretary of VA under David Shulkin, MD.
Personal Life
During his time at the VA, Ullyot had an affair with a former secretary. He also tried to help the agency’s head David Shulkin get fired.
John Ullyot, who is the assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, lobbied Capitol Hill to pressure lawmakers to demand that Shulkin’s resignation. He and spokesman Curt Cashour said they made the call in response to a blistering report from the inspector general about ethical violations by Shulkin’s chief of staff.
In addition to running, Ullyot played a major role in women’s sport. She helped thwart the myths that women could not run long distances, and she helped persuade the International Olympic Committee to add a marathon for women at the 1984 Games.
Net Worth
As one of the early Facebook backers, john ullyot has built up an impressive net worth. He has 133.7 million shares in the company, which brings him an estimated wealth of $5.1 billion.
He has also invested in other tech companies including Meta Platforms Inc and AutoZone Inc. He owns about 632,442 shares of Meta Platforms stock and 760 shares of AutoZone stock.
He joined Facebook as its first general counsel in 2008 and he recently became the head of policy and regulatory affairs at the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. He has a background in public policy, regulatory compliance, telecommunications and technology law, and public company issues. He clerked for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and has strong ties to the Republican Party.