Biography

John F. Howard is a passionate advocate and legal advisor for organizations, ranging from local startups to Fortune 100 companies and large academic institutions, navigating the complexities associated with protecting information in today’s business, academic, and regulatory environments. Using his experience in privacy, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance he guides his clients as they address issues such as data breaches, privacy and cybersecurity maturation, regulatory compliance, and business transactions.

John appreciates that helping his clients be successful requires a balanced approach to addressing emerging legal and compliance issues while keeping the goals of his clients in mind. John’s risk management style utilizes this understanding to guide clients in developing effective incident response plans, risk management structures, regulatory compliance structures, polices, and procedures.

John has extensive experience in information technology, regulatory compliance, and program building having served as the Director of the HIPAA Privacy Program, the HIPAA Security Officer, and the HIPAA Privacy Officer at the University of Arizona. He is frequently called upon to help guide executive leadership through complex issues and serves as an advisor to an advanced medical device and information technology corporation where he has assisted with managing FDA compliance and go to market strategies.

In addition to being able to speak the language of executive leadership, John is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) with experience in compliance with multiple information privacy and security regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (“Common Rule”), and the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).