Joe Coon is executive vice president and co-founder of the Niskanen Center, where his role includes overseeing coalition efforts, fundraising, and strategic planning for the Center and its staff. His previous positions include director for development at Students for Liberty, the largest organization dedicated to identifying, training, and supporting pro-liberty students; director of sponsor services, and director of student programs, at the Cato Institute; and treasurer of Purple PAC, a libertarian super PAC.
Coon was a sergeant in the U.S. Army National Guard, where he served for six years, including a one-year tour of duty in Iraq as a Cavalry Scout. He studied economics and philosophy at Portland State University.