John Lucas Adair, PhD

John Lucas Adair is a Director of Government Affairs and Grant Services at Keller Partners serving clients as a policy expert with over a decade of experience. Lucas is an achievement-oriented professional with expertise in the local, state, and federal levels of policy and politics. He has a proven track record of building long-term relationships with administrative officials, Hill staffers, and numerous others to develop successful policies and procedures that are beneficial to achieving client goals to a wide range of audiences.

Prior to his work at Keller Partners, Lucas served as Policy Advisor to the U.S. Under Secretary of Education where he advised on all issues related to higher education. In this position, he played an integral role in drafting federal policy rules and regulations, providing strategic advice to inform decision-making, and coordinating with the White House, Capitol Hill, and other federal agencies in furthering administration objectives.

Before locating in Washington D.C., Lucas worked as a policy analyst and advisor for six years at the University of Alabama's Education Policy Center where he was instrumental in the research and publishing of numerous articles of academia. He has also served as a grant evaluator for the Alabama State Department of Education, worked on numerous political campaigns throughout the southeast, and briefly worked at the firm of Balch & Bingham while completing his graduate work.

Lucas holds a Ph.D. in political science, master's degree in public policy and administration, and a bachelor's degree in marketing all from the University of Alabama.

A native of Huntsville, Al, Lucas now resides in Arlington, VA with his wife, Meredith, and their dog, Dutch. In his spare time, he enjoys tennis, golf, traveling, and spending time with his family.