Jeffrey Gray

Mr. Gray has broad and deep understanding of public affairs, military matters, and educational policy.

As director of public affairs for the Union League Club of Chicago, Gray uses his broad leadership experiences and work ethic to develop compelling and nonpartisan programming on a wide range of civic issues; oversee the Club’s public policy advocacy activities; serve as the Club’s liaison to local, state, and federal government officials; and work to build coalitions with other likeminded civic organizations.  He is professionally associated with:  Chicago Navy Memorial Foundation as its senior project director, Board member for the Hyman G. Rickover Naval Academy Board of Governors, Board Secretary for the Armed Forces Council of Chicago, and an advisor on the Jack Miller Center’s National Civics Council.

Mr. Gray’s background includes over 21-years of experience as a public affairs officer in the Navy Reserve.  As a citizen-Sailor, he has transitioned periodically between active duty and reserve duty.  While on active duty, he worked for the Chief of Naval Personnel, Navy Recruiting Command, and Naval Service Training Command where he developed and executed on key strategic initiatives.  He also deployed as a public affairs officer to Afghanistan as a member of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, in Kabul, and most recently worked for the Navy and NATO to establish Joint Force Command Norfolk, a new NATO command responsible for planning and coordinating joint military operations in the North Atlantic and High North.

Mr. Gray has extensive experience in the education sector where he worked for the Chicago Public Schools and the Archdiocese of Chicago as a senior administrator—at both the district and school levels.  Working for Chicago Public Schools, he was a Special Projects manager and the Director of Admissions for Chicago’s eight Selective Enrollment High Schools and six Military Academies.  Additionally, he provided leadership and supervision of numerous high-profiled educational programs for the school district, such as implementation of No Child Left Behind Choice component for 270,000 students; director of Gifted, Talented, and Enriched Programs; High School Sports and Marching Band grant worth $6 million; City of Chicago’s Principal for a Day Program; Title IX compliance; and team member for school closings and openings.  Working for the Archdiocese of Chicago, he was appointed president of Hales Franciscan High School, a small private Catholic school on the Southside of Chicago.  In this capacity he was focused on shaping and promoting the school’s mission, developing external relationships, finances, institutional advancement, strategic planning, internal and external communications, and facilities management.

Mr. Gray earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego, and a master’s degree in the Social Sciences from the University of Chicago.