Jack C. Jackson, Jr.

Jack C. Jackson, Jr. (Navajo Nation)
Senior Strategist
Blue Stone Strategy Group
Jack C. Jackson, Jr., a member of the Navajo Nation, is from the Tó’áhaní (Near The Water) Clan, and born for the Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House) Clan.  His maternal grandfather is from the Tábąąhá (Water’s Edge) Clan, and his paternal grandfather is from the Áshįįhí (Salt) Clan.  He was born and raised on the Navajo Nation in Arizona.

Jack currently serves in the 50th Arizona State Legislature as the Senator for District 2 in Northern Arizona which includes the City of Flagstaff, the Navajo Nation and the tribes of the Hopi, Havasupai, Hualapai and San Juan Southern Paiute.  From 2003 to 2005, Jack served in the
Arizona House of Representatives representing District 2. His greatest joy was working alongside his father, Senator Jack C. Jackson, Sr., who served in the State Legislature from 1985 to 2004. They were the first father and son to serve together.

In 1989, after obtaining his Juris Doctorate degree from the Syracuse University School of Law, Jack moved to Washington, DC where he worked for 12 years representing tribal governments and organizations. His DC tenure included work for the Navajo Nation Washington Office, the National Indian Education Association and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

Jack also represented NCAI as a member of the Executive Committee of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR). Founded in 1950, the LCCR has coordinated the national legislative campaign on behalf of every major civil rights law since 1957.

In 2005, Jack was appointed by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as the Executive Director of the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs. He worked with the Governor’s Tribal Liaison Group to coordinate with other agencies and members of the Legislature to address Indian issues.

In October 2007, Jack was confirmed by the Navajo Nation Council to serve on the Navajo Gaming Enterprise Board (NNGE). He and the other board members worked at establishing the first Navajo Nation casino. The Fire Rock Casino opened on November 19, 2008. This was the first Native American gaming enterprise in the United States ever to be funded solely through tribal monies. NNGE is currently operating/planning four casinos in Arizona and New Mexico.

On February 2, 2010, Jack was appointed to serve on President Obama’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. He previously sat on President Clinton’s HIV/AIDS Council in 1999. He has also served on the boards of the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, Phoenix Body Positive, Arizona Real Estate Advisory Board, Arizonans for Cultural Development, and Arizona League of Conservation Voters.