Doug O’Brien has been with National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA) since 2016, where he served as the Executive Vice President of Programs before becoming President and CEO in January 2018. Before coming to NCBA CLUSA, Doug led the work of the White House Rural Council and served in top positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development agency (USDA). While at USDA, O’Brien chaired the Rural Working Group of the Organization for Economic and Cooperative Development Regional Development Committee. Doug has also worked in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House and for two governors. His experience in academia includes teaching, researching and writing at the University of Arkansas Agricultural and Food Masters in Law Program and Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa.
Doug grew up on a diversified farm in Dubuque County, Iowa, and holds degrees from Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa), the University of Iowa Law School, and the University of Arkansas Masters in Agricultural and Food Law Program. He lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with his wife, Alisa. He enjoys bicycling, travel, spending time with his three children, and his memberships in several consumer co-ops and credit unions.
