Bob Okun

Bob Okun is CEO of The O Team, a Washington-based government relations firm representing a range of media and healthcare interests for the past 10 years. (www.theoteam.biz) He also is the Executive Producer of the America Salutes You benefit concert series now in its fifth year, raising awareness and funds for a range of brain and mental wellness charities supporting veteran and first responders. (www.americasalutesyou.org) Previously, Bob was VP and Head of the Washington, DC office for NBCUniversal for 16.5 years. As head of NBC's Washington office, his responsibilities include coordinating the development of NBC's policy positions on legislative and regulatory issues and representing NBC's positions to the Congress, the Administration and the FCC. Bob has served as Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs at the U. S. Department of Education (1991-1992) and was Floor Assistant to former House Republican Leader, Robert Michel. In this position, he served as principal liaison to the Senate, as well as to governors, mayors and other leaders and groups involved in the legislative process. In the House of Representatives, he has had long experience as Executive Director of the Republican Conference (1989-1991), Executive Director of the Republican Policy Committee (1987-1988), and Executive Director of the House Republican Research Committee (1983-1986). He also served in the House as Staff Director for the Task Force on Regulatory Reform (1981-1983) that focused on telecommunications regulation reform. Bob is a summa cum laude graduate of Duke University with an honors degree in economics. He studied economic history at New College, Oxford, England.