John Bridgeland

John Bridgeland "is President & CEO of Civic Enterprises, and he is also Vice Chairman of a new non-profit, Malaria No More, whose mission is to mobilize individuals and institutions to support a comprehensive approach to controlling malaria, which kills more than one million people every year, the majority of whom are African children.

"At Civic Enterprises, Bridgeland authored a Gates commissioned report, The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts, which showed that most dropouts could have graduated from high school if they had had more support. The report prompted the TIME cover story, Dropout Nation, and two Oprah Winfrey shows on the topic. Bridgeland also led the National Summit on America's Silent Epidemic with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Governors Association, TIME Magazine and MTV that prompted action at the federal, state and local levels around a 10 point plan of action to increase graduation rates and college and workforce readiness. Bridgeland also helped build Malaria No More into a global, grassroots movement in the U.S. and other countries to support the comprehensive approach to control malaria. The effort was launched at the White House Summit on Malaria. Bridgeland also worked with the National Parks Conservation Association to help develop the Centennial Initiative and Challenge to strengthen our National Parks over the next decade; works with the Battelle Memorial Institute on its math and science education initiative and its National Security Strategic Advisory Group; helped the Case Foundation develop its strategic civic engagement investment plan; led the International Conference on Faith and Service; led the effort to develop America's first Civic Health Index; led three conferences for the National Conference on Citizenship; and serves on 15 non-profit boards.

"John was also a Teaching Fellow in the fall of 2004 at the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he offered a class on Presidential Decision Making. Most recently, Bridgeland served as Assistant to the President of the United States and the first Director of the USA Freedom Corps. In that role, he coordinated more than $1 billion in domestic and international service initiatives and worked with non-profits, corporations and schools to foster a culture of service in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Results included: a 4 million person increase from 59 million to 63 million in the number of Americans who regularly engage in volunteer service; creation of the most comprehensive online clearinghouse connecting citizens with service opportunities; a new Citizen Corps that engages citizens in more than 1,500 communities in homeland security; the largest funding levels in history for Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Senior Corps; creation of a new Volunteers for Prosperity that is deploying thousands of American professionals to volunteer abroad; and more than 800 CEOs who now enlist their employees in regular volunteer service. He also led the Administration's effort to strengthen American history and civics education and co-chaired the White House Task Force for Disadvantaged Youth.

"Prior to that, Bridgeland served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council at the White House, where he coordinated policy on drug abuse, crime, election reform, Americans with disabilities, tropical forest conservation, faith-based initiatives, public housing, and dozens of other domestic issues. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, he co-chaired the federal effort on the economic revitalization of New York and created America's Fund for Afghan Children. In addition, Bridgeland co-directed the policy transition for the Bush-Cheney Presidential Transition team and was Deputy Policy Director for the Bush-Cheney 2000 Presidential campaign. Bridgeland began his professional career by practicing law in the New York and Paris, France offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell. He also served as Chief of Staff and Counsel to U.S. Congressman Rob Portman.

"Bridgeland graduated with honors in government from Harvard University, studied at the College of Europe and the Universite Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium as a Rotary International Fellow, and received his J.D. at the University of Virginia School of Law. He currently serves on the following boards or advisory boards: the American Presidents Foundation (Chairman); AmericaSpeaks National Advisory Board; Center for National Policy; Coalition for a Drug Free Greater Cincinnati; Earth Conservation Corps; Earth University; Hands On Network Advisory Council; Aspen Institute, Rodel Fellows Program; National Civic Literacy Board; National Conference on Citizenship Advisory Board; Partnership for Public Service; Trustees of the America's Promise Alliance; Youth Service America; and We the People National Advisory Committee Center for Civic Education. He lives with his wife, Maureen, and their three children, Caily, Fallon and Regis, in McLean, Virginia."


 * Service Advisory Board, International Freedom Center