Bachelor of Political Science - 1992
Master of Public Administration - 1995
Chris Spear is a government relations specialist with over two decades experience
across five continents, serving the transportation, energy and defense technology
sectors.
Spear is currently President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations (ATA),
the nation's leading organization advocating public policy on behalf of the trucking
industry. Employing more than 7 million people and moving more than 10 billion tons
of freight annually, trucking is the industry most responsible for moving America's
economy.
He also presently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Transportation
Research Institute, the Northwestern University Transportation Center Advisory Council,
the Congressional Award Foundation, and the Louisa Swain Foundation.
Prior to ATA, Spear worked in the transportation, energy, labor and technology sectors
across five continents. He was Vice President of Government Affairs for Hyundai Motor
Company, serving on the Global Automakers Executive Committee. Previously, Spear was
Vice President of Emerging Markets for Honeywell International, based in Bracknell,
United Kingdom, and Vice President for Honeywell Government Relations in Washington,
DC, and Brussels, Belgium, managing corporate interests in the US, Europe, Middle
East, Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America.
Spear also has extensive experience in the federal government, serving as Deputy Representative
for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Previously, he was nominated by President
George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the US Senate as Assistant Secretary of
Labor for Policy. During his appointment, he was the President's Senior Advisor to
the Iraqi Ministry of Labor, Commissioner on the President's Mental Health Commission,
and Executive Committee Member of the US Architectural and Transportation Barriers
Compliance Board. He later held the position of Deputy Representative for the Coalition
Provisional Authority in Iraq. Before his nomination, Spear worked as professional
staff in the US Senate under Wyoming's Mike Enzi and Al Simpson. Spear is a graduate
of the Honeywell Executive Development Program, a recipient of Honeywell's Premier
Achievement Award and was awarded the US Department of Defense Joint Civilian Service
Medal. He holds two degrees from the University of Wyoming, a bachelor's of political
science in 1992 and a master's of public administration in 1995.
He is married to Michelle Ankeny and they have four children, including a son, James,
who is currently a junior at UW.
