John Colyandro is Senior Advisor and Policy Director for Governor Greg Abbott, who also appointed him to represent the State of Texas on the Education Commission of the States, and the Transition Legislative Oversight Committee for the Health and Human Services Commission. Prior to joining the Office of the Governor, Colyandro served for over a decade as Executive Director of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute, a state-based think-tank that develops public policy recommendations. He also served as Executive Director of the Texas Conservative Coalition, a caucus of members of the Texas House and Senate. Colyandro served previously as a campaign policy advisor to Greg Abbott as Attorney General of Texas and then as a gubernatorial candidate, and has had an active role in numerous campaigns throughout the United States including Texas Senator Phil Gramm's presidential campaign. Additional public service roles include chief of staff positions with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Texas Railroad Commission.