President & CEO of Outward Bound USA, John Read, joined Outward Bound in 1992 and is a nine time participant in Outward Bound programs.

Outward Bound was established in Great Britain during WWII to instill greater self-reliance and spiritual tenacity in young British seamen being torpedoed by German U-boats. It has since become the premier adventure-based education program in the world, reaching people in the wilderness, urban centers, work places and classrooms to help them achieve their possibilities and to inspire them to serve others and the world around them.

In July Read was honored by Newsweek Magazine as one of 15 People Who Make America Great.

Prior to Outward Bound, he had a long and successful career in business and government service. He spent more than a decade in executive posts for Cummins Engine Company, Donaldson Company and Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc. Read's government work culminated in his 1976 appointment by President Ford to be Assistant Secretary for Employment Standards in the Labor Department.

Read has BA and MBA degrees from Harvard University. He and his wife have three children, each of whom has experienced an Outward Bound course.

NOTE: Bio is as it appeared in the Forum program from November 29, 2006.