Joseph Rodota, founder and CEO of Forward Observer, is a seasoned government executive and political strategist, serving Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor Pete Wilson, and President Ronald Reagan over the past two decades.
Rodota served as Director of Policy and Research for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s gubernatorial campaign in California’s historic 2003 recall election. In just 30 days, Rodota assembled a policy staff of more than 50 paid and volunteer experts, produced two policy summits, and generated a half-dozen major policy platforms. Newsweek magazine dubbed this effort “Schwarzenegger University,” and many political columnists concluded the Schwarzenegger campaign was by far the most substantive of any candidacy in the tumultuous recall election. Following Schwarzenegger’s sweeping victory, Rodota directed the economic policy transition team.
Rodota served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary to former California Governor Pete Wilson, overseeing day-to-day operations, policy development, and federal relations for the executive branch of the nation’s most populous state. He was a top consultant to the Governor’s 1990 campaign and served as senior counselor for policy in the 1994 reelection campaign.
Rodota served as deputy director of public affairs in the White House during Ronald Reagan’s second term, from 1985 to 1988. Rodota served in policy or communications posts in three federal agencies as a Reagan appointee from 1982 to 1985, and was domestic policy analyst with the Republican National Committee during the 1984 election..
Rodota was founder and president of Benchmark Research Group, a political and public affairs research firm. Clients included Bush-Quayle ’88 and ’92, the Republican National Committee, California Public Television, Genentech, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association; No on Big Green; and more than two dozen other candidate and ballot initiative campaigns in multiple states.
Joe is also a veteran of Silicon Valley’s startup culture. He was vice president of marketing and corporate strategy for Broad Daylight, a customer service software developer acquired in 2003 by Primus Knowledge Solutions.
