Craig Obey is a senior executive with extensive experience in federal and state policymaking, organizational management, fundraising, and partnership development. During more than three decades working with and in the private and public sectors, he has been a change agent in organizational leadership roles and across public policy settings. He currently serves in the executive leadership of the American Psychiatric Association as Chief of Government Relations, where he oversees the organization’s bipartisan federal and state advocacy to bring the full continuum of mental health and substance use care and treatment to all who need it.

He previously played a central leadership role in building and coordinating coalition efforts to prevent repeal of the Affordable Care Act as Deputy Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer at Families USA.  In addition, he spent 15 years as a Senior Vice President with the National Parks Conservation Association, where he led and developed programs, advanced legislation, and created partnerships, coalitions, alliances, and new national parks.  His roles also have included senior positions with a small technology consulting company, the top-rated public affairs firm in the nation’s capital, and a variety of roles on nonprofit boards.

Craig spent more than a decade in public service roles, including key staff roles in the U.S. Senate and as Director of the Office of Intragovernmental Affairs for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the U.S. Department of Labor.  He received his BA from the University of Wisconsin and holds a JD from Georgetown University Law Center.