John Gifford is the Director of Government Affairs at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). He directs AUSA’s lobbying and advocacy efforts with the United States Congress for issues affecting our Army and AUSA members. Mr. Gifford also provides liaison between AUSA and the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, military-related associations, and federal agencies involved in areas of interest to AUSA members and the U.S. Army.

Prior to joining AUSA in July 2015, Mr. Gifford was a Director of Government Relations at General Dynamics Corporate Headquarters from 2014 to 2015, and the Director of Strategic Planning for General Dynamics from 2007 to 2014.

Before joining the private sector in 2007, Mr. Gifford was an Armor and Cavalry officer (and soldier) in the United States Army for 23 years. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, and earned master’s degrees at Princeton University and at the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) at Fort Leavenworth, KS.