RTI’s James Hunter appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to the NC Board of Science, Technology and Innovation

The VP of government relations joins the 27-member board as the representative of private industry

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has appointed James Hunter, vice president of government relations at RTI International, to the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology and Innovation. The board works to promote and support scientific, engineering and industrial research applications. 
 
"I am honored to be appointed by Governor Cooper,” said Hunter. “I look forward to working with the board and state leaders to help enhance the state’s economic competitiveness and the quality of life of all North Carolinians.”

The board is focused on accelerating North Carolina's next generation of technology and technology companies. As a state-authorized advisory board administered by the Office of Science, Technology and Innovation at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the board encourages, promotes, and supports scientific, engineering, and industrial research applications in North Carolina. Its mission is to improve the economic well‐being and quality of life of all North Carolinians through advancing science, technology, and innovation.

“Both the Board and RTI International have a long, established histories of advancing innovation in North Carolina. Mr. Hunter’s appointment represents a great opportunity for both organizations to foster innovation collaboratively,” said Janet Cowell, board chair.

Hunter joins the 27-member board as the representative of private industry. He is a proven leader, with more than fifteen years of public policy experience. He joined RTI in 2017 and leads a team of government relations professionals with expertise in federal, state and international policy, and supports corporate communications and strategy development.  
 
Hunter regularly engages with policymakers on RTI’s research priorities and expertise, including matters related to international development, technology and commercialization, and research related to health, education, defense, energy, economic and environmental policy. He has successfully secured new investments in RTI-led multi-sector defense research initiatives, clean energy research and global health programming. 
 
Hunter is a Marshall Memorial Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States and is the co-chair of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Roundtable.