| John F. Harris (Illinois) | |
|---|---|
| Chief of Staff for Illinois Governor | |
| In office 2005 – December 12, 2008 (resignation) [1] |
|
| Governor | Rod Blagojevich |
| Budget Director for Mayor of Chicago | |
| In office 1996–2005 |
|
| Leader | Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley |
| Judge Advocate for U.S. Army | |
| In office 1984–1992 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 17, 1962 [2] Chicago, Illinois |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Chicago, Illinois |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University |
John F. Harris (born 1962) is the former Chief of Staff to the Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich. He resigned in December 2008 after being charged, along with Blagojevich, with wire fraud.
Harris graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in 1984. He attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law and graduated in 1987.
From 1984 to 1992, Harris served as an intelligence officer and judge advocate general in the United States Army. He resigned his commission in 1992 and subsequently joined the administration of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, where he served in many senior management positions and ultimately as budget director from 1996 to 2005. Among his many accomplishements, Harris negotiated and launched the multi-billion dollar O'Hare International Airport modernization program and led the City's successful transaction to sell the Chicago Skyway for $1.8b to the private capital joint venture team of Cintra/MacQuarie. In 2005, Harris joined the administration of the Governor of Illinois as Chief-of-Staff, Rod Blagojevich.[3]
On December 9, 2008, Harris and his boss Governor Rod Blagojevich were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud as well as solicitation of bribery.[4] Harris resigned days later.[5]