2021 Alumni Promise Award Winner
A Torchbearer, student body president, and Rhodes Scholarship finalist, John Rader achieved many things while at UT. But since earning his BA and JD, he has gone on to accomplish even more in public policy.
Immediately upon completing his JD, Rader clerked for the Honorable Harry Mattice Jr. in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. That same summer, he clerked for the Honorable Julia Gibbons in the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He continued working through various roles including acting assistant district attorney for Tennessee’s 13th Judicial District.
In 2011, Rader was brought on by then Governor Bill Haslam as deputy director of policy and research. The next year, he became assistant deputy counsel to the governor and by 2015, he was acting deputy counsel to the governor. It was soon after this that Rader transitioned to serving as counsel and policy analyst for former Senator Bob Corker when he was chair of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
In late 2016, Rader moved further up and began working as deputy director for presidential appointments for the Republican Presidential Transition Team. Rader served as deputy assistant to the president for strategic initiatives. He also served on the National Security Council under former President Donald Trump. Currently, Rader is the chief of staff for Senator Bill Hagerty.
Rader is an active community member and has served with Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee, the Nashville Emerging Leaders Program, the Nashville Young Leaders Council, and more. He is also an avid triathlete and has completed three Ironman Triathlons.
A Torchbearer, student body president, and Rhodes Scholarship finalist, John Rader achieved many things while at UT. But since earning his BA and JD, he has gone on to accomplish even more in public policy.
Immediately upon completing his JD, Rader clerked for the Honorable Harry Mattice Jr. in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. That same summer, he clerked for the Honorable Julia Gibbons in the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He continued working through various roles including acting assistant district attorney for Tennessee’s 13th Judicial District.
In 2011, Rader was brought on by then Governor Bill Haslam as deputy director of policy and research. The next year, he became assistant deputy counsel to the governor and by 2015, he was acting deputy counsel to the governor. It was soon after this that Rader transitioned to serving as counsel and policy analyst for former Senator Bob Corker when he was chair of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
In late 2016, Rader moved further up and began working as deputy director for presidential appointments for the Republican Presidential Transition Team. Rader served as deputy assistant to the president for strategic initiatives. He also served on the National Security Council under former President Donald Trump. Currently, Rader is the chief of staff for Senator Bill Hagerty.
Rader is an active community member and has served with Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee, the Nashville Emerging Leaders Program, the Nashville Young Leaders Council, and more. He is also an avid triathlete and has completed three Ironman Triathlons.
