John provides strategic leadership across programs, advocacy, governance, and operations in support of veterans with spinal cord injuries and related disabilities.
Executive Director
Mountain States Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America
Born and raised near Boston, John earned a B.A. in biochemistry from Ithaca College and later attended Officer Candidate School in Yorktown, Virginia. He served as a Navy dive officer in the United States Coast Guard, stationed in Hawaii.
Following his military service, John built a diverse professional career spanning pharmaceutical and medical device sales, including serving as the Hawaii territory manager for Olympus Surgical Technologies of America, before founding his own medical device distributorship. He has also led multiple entrepreneurial ventures, including an endurance event company, residential construction projects, and an off-grid eco-retreat, while competing in Ironman triathlons.
After a cycling accident left him paralyzed, John became deeply engaged in adaptive sports, peer mentorship, and disability advocacy. He discovered Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports in 2011 and has participated in the program nearly every year since. In 2015, he served as president of the organization’s board of directors during its transition to independence.
John holds a graduate certificate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Services and multiple coaching certifications in leadership, personality frameworks, and emotional intelligence. He is currently completing a master’s degree in clinical psychology.
John lives in Huntsville, Utah, where he also serves on the Huntsville Planning Commission, contributing to community-focused leadership and long-term planning in the Ogden Valley.