John Bryson | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2011 | |
| 37thUnited States Secretary of Commerce | |
| In office October 21, 2011 – June 21, 2012 On leave: June 11, 2012 – June 21, 2012 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Rebecca Blank |
| Preceded by | Rebecca Blank (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Rebecca Blank (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Edgar Bryson (1943-07-24)July 24, 1943 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | May 13, 2025(2025-05-13) (aged 81) San Marino, California, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | Stanford University (BA) Yale University (JD) |
John Edgar Bryson (July 24, 1943 – May 13, 2025) was an American businessman, lawyer and politician. He served asUnited States Secretary of Commerce from 2011 until 2012, the 37th person to hold the post since its establishment in 1913. He took a leave of absence in June 2012 after a pair of vehicular accidents related to seizures and subsequently resigned. Previously he was chairman, chief executive officer, and president ofEdison International, the parent company ofSouthern California Edison and director ofThe Boeing Company. He co-founded theNatural Resources Defense Council with fellow Yale alumni in 1970.
Bryson was born in New York City on July 24, 1943.[1] His father operated asawmill.[2] He graduated fromCleveland High School inPortland, Oregon, in 1961.[3] He received his bachelor's degree fromStanford University in 1965 and hisJuris Doctor (J.D.) degree fromYale Law School in 1969.[4]
In 1970, with other recent Yale Law graduates, Bryson helped found and served as legal counsel for theNatural Resources Defense Council.[5][6] From 1976 until 1979, Bryson served as chairman of theCalifornia State Water Resources Control Board, and from 1979 until 1982, he served as president of theCalifornia Public Utilities Commission. In 1983, Bryson worked for the law firm ofMorrison & Foerster in the San Francisco office. Bryson joinedEdison International in 1984,[7] and served as director from 1990 until his retirement on July 31, 2008.[8]
Bryson was a director ofThe Boeing Company,W. M. Keck Foundation, andThe Walt Disney Company, and a former Director/Trustee for threeWestern Asset Management funds atLegg Mason. He served on a number of educational, environmental and other nonprofit boards, including chairman of the California Business Roundtable, a trustee ofStanford University, a trustee ofCalifornia Institute of Technology, co-chairman of thePacific Council on International Policy, and chairman of thePublic Policy Institute of California.[9][10]
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On May 31, 2011, PresidentBarack Obama nominated Bryson to succeedGary Locke as theUnited States Secretary of Commerce.[11] Citing Bryson's environmental views,United States SenatorJim Inhofe, aRepublican fromOklahoma, put ahold on his nomination in July.[12] The Senate later reached a unanimous consent agreement to vote on Bryson's nomination, and the Senate confirmed Bryson by a 74–26 vote on October 20, 2011.[13] He was sworn in on October 21, 2011, becoming the 37th Secretary of theDepartment of Commerce.[14]
As Secretary of Commerce, Bryson co-chaired the White House Office of Manufacturing Policy withGene Sperling.[15]
On June 9, 2012, Bryson was involved in a pair of car crashes inSan Gabriel, California andRosemead, California, which were investigated as possiblefelony hit and run. He is said to have been found unconscious at the site of the second crash. A Department of Commerce spokesperson confirmed he was involved in a crash, and said Bryson had suffered from a seizure.[16][17][18][19][20]
After announcing in a memo that he was taking a medical leave of absence, with Deputy Secretary of CommerceRebecca Blank taking over as Acting Secretary of Commerce,[21] Bryson announced on June 21, 2012, his resignation from the post of Secretary of Commerce,[22] because, "the work that [Commerce employees] do to help America’s entrepreneurs and businesses build our economy and create jobs is more important now than ever and I have come to the conclusion that I need to step down to prevent distractions from this critical mission."[23]
Los Angeles County prosecutors announced on July 3, 2012, that no criminal charges would be pursued,[24] as the collisions resulted from the cognitive effect of unexpected seizure.[25]
Bryson joined theWoodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars as a Distinguished Senior Public Policy Scholar in October 2012.[26]
Bryson was married to Louise Henry Bryson.[27] Their four daughters graduated from thePolytechnic School inPasadena, California.[2] Bryson and his wife both served on the school's Board of Trustees.[27] Bryson and his wife resided inSan Marino, California.[28]
Bryson died at home in San Marino, California, on May 13, 2025, at the age of 81.[29]
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| Preceded by | Chief Executive Officer ofEdison International 1990–2008 | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by Rebecca Blank Acting | United States Secretary of Commerce 2011–2012 | Succeeded by Rebecca Blank Acting |
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