John Destefano

Johnny DeStefano is President and Founder of Utility Strategic Advisors, where he helps a diverse set of clients navigate an increasingly complex Washington.

Respected for his ability to “gravitate towards the unmanageable and unwinnable – and managing to win,” DeStefano has had a front seat for each tectonic shift in Washington over the last two decades.

DeStefano served most recently as one of President Trump’s closest advisors, with uniquely broad responsibilities that give him insights into both the Administration and the Republican Party that no other official, past or present, can offer. During his time as a Counselor to the President, he oversaw personnel appointments across the entire federal government and managed the White House political team. During the 2018 midterm cycle, he traveled across the country with the President, who campaigned more than any President in history.

Described as one of President Trump’s most trusted advisors, DeStefano thrived in an environment that many did not by eschewing the spotlight, building consensus, and relying on what he learned while winning (and losing) many hard-fought battles over his career.

Prior to the White House, DeStefano was President and CEO of Data Trust, a right-of-center voter file and political data company. DeStefano helped grow Data Trust to become the premier data organization on the right, providing the foundational data that powered President Trump’s historic 2016 victory and Republican majorities in both the House and Senate.

In addition, DeStefano served as a Senior Advisor to House Speaker John Boehner, and has had leadership roles at the National Republican Congressional Committee and the House Republican Conference. In 2006, DeStefano managed the campaign of then House Conference Chair Deborah Pryce, re-electing the most vulnerable member of House Republican leadership by 1,062 votes in a Democratic wave election year.