John F. Harris (Illinois)
Encyclopedia
John F. Harris is the former Chief of Staff
to the Governor of Illinois
, Rod Blagojevich
. He resigned in December 2008 after being charged, along with Blagojevich, with wire fraud
.
in Evanston
, Illinois in 1984. He attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law
and graduated in 1987.
From 1984 to 1992, Harris served as an intelligence officer and judge advocate general
in the United States Army
. He resigned his commission in 1992 and subsequently joined the administration of Chicago Mayor
Richard M. Daley
, where he served in many senior management positions and ultimately as budget director from 1996 to 2005. Among his many accomplishements, Harris negotiated and launched the multi-billion dollar O'Hare International Airport modernization program and led the City's successful transaction to sell the Chicago Skyway for $1.8b to the private capital joint venture team of Cintra/MacQuarie. In 2005, Harris joined the administration of the Governor of Illinois as Chief-of-Staff, Rod Blagojevich
.
were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud as well as solicitation of bribery. Harris resigned days later.
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
to the Governor of Illinois
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
, Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
. He resigned in December 2008 after being charged, along with Blagojevich, with wire fraud
Wire fraud
Mail and wire fraud is a federal crime in the United States. Together, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343, and 1346 reach any fraudulent scheme or artifice to intentionally deprive another of property or honest services with a nexus to mail or wire communication....
.
Biography
Harris graduated from Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in Evanston
Evanston
Evanston may refer to locations:in Australia:* Evanston, South Australiain Canada:* Evanston, Calgary, a neighbourhood in Calgary, Alberta* Evanston, Nova Scotiain the United States:...
, Illinois in 1984. He attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Loyola University Chicago School of Law is the law school of the Loyola University Chicago, in Illinois. Established in 1909, by the Society of Jesus, the Roman Catholic order of the Jesuits, the School of Law is located in downtown Chicago, within walking distance of the Water Tower , the John...
and graduated in 1987.
From 1984 to 1992, Harris served as an intelligence officer and judge advocate general
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He resigned his commission in 1992 and subsequently joined the administration of Chicago Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
, where he served in many senior management positions and ultimately as budget director from 1996 to 2005. Among his many accomplishements, Harris negotiated and launched the multi-billion dollar O'Hare International Airport modernization program and led the City's successful transaction to sell the Chicago Skyway for $1.8b to the private capital joint venture team of Cintra/MacQuarie. In 2005, Harris joined the administration of the Governor of Illinois as Chief-of-Staff, Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
.
Involvement with Rod Blagojevich
On December 9, 2008, Harris and his boss Governor Rod BlagojevichRod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud as well as solicitation of bribery. Harris resigned days later.