Jon Huntsman Jr.

Jon Huntsman Jr.
Name	Jon Huntsman Jr.
Caption	Official portrait, 2009
Office	United States Ambassador to China
President	Barack Obama
Term start	August 28, 2009
Term end	April 28, 2011
Predecessor	Clark T. Randt Jr.
Successor	Gary Locke
Office1	United States Ambassador to Singapore
President1	George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton
Term start1	September 22, 1992
Term end1	June 15, 1993
Predecessor1	Robert D. Orr
Successor1	Timothy Chorba
Office2	16th Governor of Utah
Lieutenant2	Gary Herbert
Term start2	January 3, 2005
Term end2	August 11, 2009
Predecessor2	Olene Walker
Successor2	Gary Herbert
Party	Republican
Spouse	Mary Kaye Huntsman
Alma mater	University of Pennsylvania (BA)
Birth date	26 March 1960
Birth place	Palo Alto, California, U.S.

Jon Huntsman Jr. is an American businessman, diplomat, and politician who served as the 16th Governor of Utah and in several high-profile diplomatic posts. A member of the Republican Party, he was the United States Ambassador to China under President Barack Obama and the United States Ambassador to Singapore under Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Huntsman sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, positioning himself as a pragmatic moderate, before later leaving the party and engaging in advocacy for political reform.

Early life and education

Born in Palo Alto, California, he is the son of billionaire industrialist Jon Huntsman Sr., founder of the Huntsman Corporation. He spent much of his youth in Washington, D.C., and Utah, and was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Huntsman attended Highland High School in Salt Lake City before enrolling at the University of Utah. He later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in international politics from the College of Arts and Sciences. During his studies, he also worked as a staff assistant for U.S. Senator Jake Garn.

Business career

Following his graduation, Huntsman began his career in the family business, the Huntsman Corporation, a global chemical manufacturing company founded by his father. He held various executive positions, contributing to the firm's expansion in Asia and Europe. His business acumen and international experience were further honed while serving on the corporate boards of several major companies, including the Huntsman Cancer Institute. This period solidified his reputation in both corporate and philanthropic circles, particularly in Utah.

Political career

Huntsman's political career began in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, where he served as a deputy assistant secretary of commerce and later as deputy assistant secretary of trade. His early government work focused on Asia-Pacific trade policy. In 2004, he was elected as the Governor of Utah, succeeding Olene Walker. As governor, he was known for his fiscally conservative policies, tax reforms, and investments in transportation infrastructure, earning high approval ratings.

Diplomatic service

Huntsman's diplomatic career includes two significant ambassadorships. In 1992, President George H. W. Bush appointed him as the United States Ambassador to Singapore, a post he held into the Clinton administration. In a notable bipartisan move, President Barack Obama appointed him as the United States Ambassador to China in 2009. During his tenure in Beijing, he navigated complex issues such as trade relations, human rights, and climate change policy, before resigning in 2011.

2012 presidential campaign

Huntsman resigned as ambassador to launch a campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. His platform emphasized economic competitiveness, tax reform, and a pragmatic foreign policy, but he struggled to gain traction in a primary field dominated by more conservative figures like Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. After a third-place finish in the New Hampshire primary, he suspended his campaign in January 2012 and later endorsed the eventual nominee, Mitt Romney.

Post-2012 political activities

Following his presidential run, Huntsman remained active in public policy and political discourse. He served as chairman of the Atlantic Council and co-chaired the No Labels organization, advocating for bipartisan problem-solving. In a significant political shift, he left the Republican Party in 2019, citing a need for a new approach to governance. He was briefly considered for various administration roles and has been a frequent commentator on CNN and Fox News.

Personal life

Huntsman is married to Mary Kaye Huntsman, and they have seven children, including three adopted from China and India. The family splits time between Salt Lake City and Washington, D.C.. He is a noted philanthropist, particularly through the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. His personal interests include rock music, having played in a band, and motorcycle touring.

Category:1960 births Category:American ambassadors to China Category:Governors of Utah Category:Living people