Allyn Brooks-LaSure

Allyn Brooks-LaSure serves as chief communications officer and vice president of Communications Programs at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), a role he stepped into in 2020. With more than 25 years of experience in communications, management, and policy—across the U.S. and internationally—Allyn brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to shaping the Foundation’s narrative and advancing its vision: a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right.

Allyn’s journey in public service and advocacy is marked by a commitment to elevating voices and bridging divides. Previously, as executive vice president for communications at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights—a coalition representing over 220 organizations—he worked to amplify the reach and impact of the civil rights movement, always centering communities most affected by the issues at hand.

His experience extends to the U.S. State Department, where he served as a Foreign Service Officer in Washington, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, championing women’s empowerment and climate action. As communications advisor to the U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change, Allyn played a steady hand in highlighting U. S. climate leadership, from the Keystone XL pipeline decision to pivotal moments at the 2015 Paris climate negotiations.

During his time as a political appointee at the Environmental Protection Agency under President Obama, Allyn modernized the agency’s communications, weaving together partner engagement, environmental education, and media production to create a unified public voice. His expertise as a spokesperson has supported U.S. Senators, the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, and the Save Darfur Coalition.

In the private sector, Allyn led client accounts for high-profile organizations such as Microsoft and the U.S. Army Accessions Command at The Caraway Group, a D.C.-based communications firm. He contributes his time as a board member of The Communications Network and Alfred Street Baptist Church and previously served on the board of the Greater Washington Urban League Thursday Network.

Allyn earned his BA in Psychology from The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. Originally from Bridgeton, N.J., he now lives in northern Virginia with his wife and daughter—grounded by his roots and guided by a passion for connecting people, ideas, and purpose.