John J. Sullivan (American lawyer)
Encyclopedia
John J. Sullivan is an American
lawyer. He served as Deputy Secretary
of the United States Department of Commerce
from 2008 to 2009 in the George W. Bush
administration.
Sullivan, raised in Boston
, Massachusetts
, received his A.B.
in History and Political Science from Brown University
in 1981 and his J.D.
from Columbia University School of Law in 1985. At Columbia, he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and Book Reviews Editor of the Columbia Law Review
. He was a law clerk for Judge John Minor Wisdom
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
and for United States Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter.
In 1991, Sullivan served as Counselor to Assistant Attorney General J. Michael Luttig
in the Office of Legal Counsel of the United States Department of Justice
. The next year, he served as Deputy General Counsel of President George H. W. Bush
's 1992 re-election campaign. In 1993, Sullivan joined the Washington, D.C.
law firm of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP, where he practiced Supreme Court law.
In February 2004, U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
appointed Sullivan as Deputy General Counsel
of the United States Department of Defense
. In this capacity, he was responsible for all litigation involving the Department and for counsel on major criminal and congressional investigations. During his tenure, he was awarded the Secretary of Defense’s Medal for Exceptional Public Service.
Sullivan then moved to the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he served as General Counsel. As the Department’s chief legal officer and Designated Agency Ethics Official, Mr. Sullivan managed the work of over 400 lawyers in the 14 legal offices providing legal advice to all components of the Department.
Upon the resignation of Deputy Secretary David Sampson, Sullivan was assigned as Acting Deputy Secretary beginning on September 1, 2007. He was soon thereafter nominated by George W. Bush
to serve in a permanent capacity, and was sworn in on March 14, 2008 after confirmation by the United States Senate
. As the Department’s chief operating officer, he managed a $6.8 billion budget and 38,000 employees in 13 operating units. He was also a member of President Bush's Management Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
.
He and his wife, Grace Rodriguez, have three children and live in Maryland.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer. He served as Deputy Secretary
United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce
The Deputy Secretary of Commerce is a high ranking position within the United States Department of Commerce. It was createdon December 13, 1979 when President Jimmy Carter sent a letter to the U.S. Senate and nominated Luther H. Hodges, Jr., who then currently held the title of Under Secretary of...
of the United States Department of Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
from 2008 to 2009 in the George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
administration.
Sullivan, raised in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, received his A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in History and Political Science from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1981 and his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Columbia University School of Law in 1985. At Columbia, he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and Book Reviews Editor of the Columbia Law Review
Columbia Law Review
The Columbia Law Review is a law review edited and published by students at Columbia Law School. In addition to articles, the journal regularly publishes scholarly essays and student notes. It was founded in 1901 by Joseph E. Corrigan and John M. Woolsey, who served as the review's first...
. He was a law clerk for Judge John Minor Wisdom
John Minor Wisdom
John Minor Wisdom , one of the "Fifth Circuit Four", and a liberal Republican from Louisiana, was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit during the 1950s and 1960s, when that court became known for a series of decisions crucial in advancing the civil rights of...
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
and for United States Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter.
In 1991, Sullivan served as Counselor to Assistant Attorney General J. Michael Luttig
J. Michael Luttig
J. Michael Luttig is an American lawyer and a former federal appellate court judge.-Education and early work:Born in Tyler, Texas, Luttig graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1976. He then attended the University of Virginia School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor degree in...
in the Office of Legal Counsel of the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
. The next year, he served as Deputy General Counsel of President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
's 1992 re-election campaign. In 1993, Sullivan joined the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
law firm of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP, where he practiced Supreme Court law.
In February 2004, U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
appointed Sullivan as Deputy General Counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
of the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. In this capacity, he was responsible for all litigation involving the Department and for counsel on major criminal and congressional investigations. During his tenure, he was awarded the Secretary of Defense’s Medal for Exceptional Public Service.
Sullivan then moved to the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he served as General Counsel. As the Department’s chief legal officer and Designated Agency Ethics Official, Mr. Sullivan managed the work of over 400 lawyers in the 14 legal offices providing legal advice to all components of the Department.
Upon the resignation of Deputy Secretary David Sampson, Sullivan was assigned as Acting Deputy Secretary beginning on September 1, 2007. He was soon thereafter nominated by George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to serve in a permanent capacity, and was sworn in on March 14, 2008 after confirmation by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. As the Department’s chief operating officer, he managed a $6.8 billion budget and 38,000 employees in 13 operating units. He was also a member of President Bush's Management Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation is an independent agency of the United States Government that mobilizes U.S. private sector investment in new and emerging markets overseas in order to support both the sustainable economic development of those markets and the creation of American jobs...
.
He and his wife, Grace Rodriguez, have three children and live in Maryland.