BIOGRAPHY
Jon Spaner is a Partner in McKinsey & Co’s Washington, DC office. He advises clients on management issues involving leadership, crisis management, procurement, transportation, innovation, and strategy across US gov’t departments and agencies.
Previously, Jon served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Coast Guard for 22 years holding the rank of Captain (O-6) and leading two Major Commands: Sector Commander and Captain of the Port of San Diego, California, as well as Commanding Officer of US Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, Michigan. He has held senior pilot ratings in the C-130 aircraft and H-60/65 helicopters during earlier tours in California, Florida, and Oregon. Moreover, on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, Jon led the United States delegation to the Arctic Council task force responsible for establishing the Arctic Economic Council.
Jon also served as Strategic Policy Advisor to the Four-Star General responsible for military operations in the U.S. Central Command region during Operations Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom which included the Middle East, Levant, Central Asian States, and Horn of Africa. Moreover, he was Director of Port/Cargo Security on the White House staff and Special Assistant to the Homeland Security Advisor as a White House Fellow.
Jon has extensive experience with crisis operations including flying relief missions during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, advising the National Incident Command during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, and surviving a piracy attack in South America while serving on a U.S. Flag Merchant Ship as a cadet.
He holds an M.B.A. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), M.S. in Management from Purdue University, and a B.S. from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy where he served as the Regimental Commander. Jon is a Distinguished Graduate from U.S. Naval Pilot Training in Pensacola, Florida, where he graduated first in his class among all armed services and international students, and a 2013 alumnus of Harvard University’s U.S.-Russia Security Program.
Jon is a former International Affairs Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, former Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and a former White House Fellow. He resides in McLean, Virginia.