Previously, he was vice president for strategy and business development for Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation. He holds a Juris Doctorate and a master?s degree in business administration.

In 2015, he retired from the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve as a lieutenant colonel. For his last assignment, John taught an economic development seminar at the Marine Corps Command & Staff College. He completed two combat tours as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served as an economics officer.