John Coalter Baker, Jr.
Email: coalter.baker@gcpdtexas.com
Coalter Baker is a seasoned public policy expert who currently serves as the Executive Director for the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD). His career has been marked by a series of high-level roles in government, nonprofits, and political campaigns.
Previously, he served as Senior Director within the public policy department of the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP), where he helped to lead federal and state advocacy efforts.
Before taking positions in Houston, Coalter spent significant time in Washington, D.C., where he worked for Governor Greg Abbott as Deputy Director of the Office of State-Federal Relations. There, he played a key role in managing the state’s relationship with the federal government. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under Secretary Dr. Ben Carson. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing communications, budget, and disaster recovery efforts, all of which were crucial during the administration’s work, particularly given the impacts of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria on Americans.
Before his time at HUD, Coalter was the Press Secretary at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) within the White House under Director Mick Mulvaney. His role at OMB required a keen understanding of the intricacies of federal budget and policy issues, making it an important stop in his public service career.
Coalter’s career in public service began even earlier, during the 2015-2016 election cycle, when he held several leadership positions in various political campaigns. This hands-on experience in the field of electoral politics laid a strong foundation for his future roles in government.
Earlier in his career, Coalter worked for former U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, where he spent five years as a policy aide, focusing on key issues in the Senate. After Senator Hutchison’s retirement, Coalter continued his work in policy as an analyst for East Africa issues at the International Republican Institute for another two years.
A sixth-generation Texan, Coalter grew up in Houston and later graduated from Texas Tech University. He now resides in Houston with his wife, Brittany, and their goldendoodle, Austin. Coalter continues to contribute to the community serving on the board of the non-profit, BakerRipley, while he advances his career in public policy.