Theodore Johnston served as the Director of the Office of Business Liaison at the Department of Commerce from April 2013 until November 2015.  In this capacity, he led the department’s business community engagement on the Obama Administration’s top policy priorities.  The Office of Business Liaison promotes progressive business policies that help America’s business and entrepreneurs here in the United States and works to strengthen the international economic position of the United States and facilitates global trade by advocating for American businesses.

Previously, he served as the White House Liaison at the United States Department of Commerce and also served for two years as Chief of Staff at the International Trade Administration where he contributed to the development of the National Export Initiative and to the creation of programs designed to help American companies identify opportunities for growth in key emerging markets and sectors.

In 2007 and 2008, prior to entering the Administration, he was Obama for America’s Florida Finance Director.

Originally from Bloomington, Indiana, Theodore holds a bachelor’s degree in English and French literature from Emory University and masters’ degrees in the humanities and public policy from, respectively, the University of Chicago and Indiana University. He is fluent in written and spoken French and highly conversant in Spanish.