With a career spanning nearly 30 years, John Tahsuda has extensive experience in matters affecting Native Americans and tribal governments.

John is a principal with Navigators Global, LLC, a full-service issues management, government relations, and strategic communications firm located in Washington, D.C.  John also is the Managing Member of Innovative Tribal Strategies LLC, an Indian-owned consultancy that provides strategic advice to Indian nations on business and government matters.

John also currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Kiowa Casino Operations Authority.  The Kiowa Casino Operations Authority is a wholly owned economic enterprise of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and is charged with building and operating gaming facilities and ancillary businesses for the Kiowa Tribe.

Before rejoining Navigators Global, John served as Senior Counselor to the Secretary of the Interior after serving two years as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary–Indian Affairs.

In previous positions, John has also served as the staff director of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, general counsel and legislative director of the National Indian Gaming Association, general counsel for the Oneida Indian Nation, and adjunct professor of law at Cornell Law School.

John has worked on a wide range of issues relating to federal policy and legislation affecting federal recognition, gaming, self-governance, natural resources, Indian health care and Indian education.  John is dedicated to applying this experience and knowledge to the advancement of tribal sovereignty and the betterment of tribal communities.

John is a member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma. He received a Juris Doctorate from Cornell Law School and B.S. in Organizational Management from Oklahoma State University. John is the proud father of triplets.