Craig Obey is the Director of the Office of Intergovernmental and Public Affairs (OIPA). Prior to this role, Mr. Obey was the Senior Advisor for the American Brain Coalition. He spent nearly six years as Chief of Government Relations for the American Psychiatric Association, where he led federal and state relations and oversaw the APA Political Action Committee as part of the APA’s administrative leadership. His experience with mental health dates to his work as the senior health staffer for a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, his role in advancing the first mental health parity amendment to pass a Senate committee, and his leadership of government affairs for the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors.
During his 30 years working with and in the private and public sectors, he has been a change agent in organizational staff and board leadership roles and across public policy settings. Mr. Obey’s experience spans for- and not-for-profit organizational roles, as well as federal and state policymaking, organizational management, fundraising, partnership development, and board governance. He has served as Deputy Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer for a healthcare nonprofit as well as advised agricultural, business, foundation, and health care clients as a group vice president with a top-rated public affairs firm. He led government affairs and built coalitions as Senior Vice President for a national conservation organization, and he operated small, private sector technology and consulting businesses.
Mr. Obey spent nearly a decade in key staff roles focused on healthcare and other areas for a U.S. Senator, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, and the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs. He led the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the U.S. Department of Labor.
Mr. Obey received his BA from the University of Wisconsin and holds a JD from Georgetown University Law Center.