John Commerford
Executive Director, NRA-ILA
Joining NRA as an intern in 2007, Commerford literally worked his way up through the ranks at NRA. As NRA-ILA’s chief of operations since 2019 and now Executive Director, he led the day-to-day management of the Institute, helping to, as he would say, “keep the trains running on time.” Previously, he helped oversee NRA-ILA’s State & Local Affairs Division, and he took charge of the political strategy for some of NRA’s most critical electoral races.
jcommerford@nrahq.org
Working with a limited budget for the 2024 presidential election, Commerford had one goal for NRA, maximize every single penny donated by NRA members to be as effective as possible.
That meant leveraging every vendor, data set and the talents of your NRA staff, to execute an incredibly effective election plan.
During the election, some pundits claimed, “Gun owners don’t vote.” We know NRA members vote--that is clear--but Commerford focused on 1.5 million gun owners in battleground states who voted in 2016 but not 2020. The result? They voted, and President Trump won. Thanks to that strategy, NRA-ILA can work with a pro-gun majority in the U.S. Senate and House to support President Trump’s agenda and further the very freedoms we all enjoy.
Aside from elections, Commerford has been in the trenches defending freedom. He has worked beyond the Beltway in numerous state capitols, passing critical legislation, including Constitutional Carry. With experience in the firearms industry, shooting range management and leadership roles in competitive shooting organizations as well as being an accomplished competitive shooter and hunter, Commerford is well poised to lead NRA-ILA as the voice of NRA members in the halls of Congress, state capitols and in the courts
Work Experience
2020-2021
Advisor, South Company
In this position, I led a team of more than 40 professional and volunteer staff members, from various company departments.
2019-2020
Advisor, South Company
In this position, I led a team of more than 40 professional and volunteer staff members, from various company departments.
2018-2019
Project manager, East Company
In this position, I led a team of more than 40 professional and volunteer staff members, from various company departments.
Education
2014-2018
New York University
MBA in International Studies and Economics
2010-2014
Texas University
Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BAIS)
Professional skills
Entrepreneurial Mindset
Go-to-Market Planning
Teamwork & Collaboration
Digital Analytics
Other team members
Joe Thomas
Eric Zehr
John Commerford
Chris Stone
Philip Van Cleave
Gilbert Ambler
John Pierce, Esq.
Brendan Mooney
