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JOHN C. CRUDEN
1900 N Street, NW, Suite 100
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 789-6018
jcruden@bdlaw.com
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT:
PRINCIPAL, BEVERIDGE & DIAMOND, P.C., 2018-PRESENT
• Provides strategic and litigation advice on national and international environmental law issues
to a diverse array of clients, including major corporations and governmental entities. Serves
as expert witness on United States law in complex national and international cases.
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, 2021-PRESENT
• Teach master’s Class on Environmental Law and Policy
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT:
PRESIDENT, AMERICAN COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYERS, 2017-2018
• Elected President of over 250-member organization of leading private, academic, NGO, and
state and federal environmental practitioners in the United States. Non-partisan organizations
provide education, pro bono assistance and research on environmental matters. Also served
as President of ACOEL Foundation 2018-2019.
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION, U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, 2015-2017
• Presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed (Dec 2014) – Leader of DOJ Environment and
Natural Resources Division (ENRD) supervising approximately 650 individuals, a budget of
over $150 million, and several thousand federal cases on behalf of nearly every federal agency.
Responsible for all environmental litigation in United States for and against the federal
government. Personally, led the settlement negotiations to resolve the BP/Deepwater Horizon
and Volkswagen civil enforcement cases, both of which resulted in settlements of over $20
billion, the largest of their type in U.S. history. Expanded Division responsibility to include
worker safety in the U.S. and animal welfare. Served as co-chair of the President’s Task force
on Illegal Wildlife Trafficking and led the U.S. delegations to International Conferences in
Botswana, Africa and Hanoi, Vietnam.
PRESIDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL LAW INSTITUTE, 2011-2014
• Leader of organization dedicated to creating “a healthy environment, prosperous economies,
and vibrant communities founded on the rule of law”. Since 1969, ELI has played a pivotal
role in shaping the fields of environmental law, policy, and management, domestically and
abroad. ELI is an internationally recognized, non-partisan research and education center
working to strengthen environmental protection by improving law and governance2
worldwide. ELI also publishes the Environmental Law Reporter and the Forum Magazine.
While ELI led NGO participation in UN Rio plus 20 Conference, led judicial training effort,
increased donor support, created ELI Leadership Council.
DEPUTY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, ACTING ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL,
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, 1995-2011
• Senior career official responsible for management, training and supervision within ENRD.
ENRD was responsible for over 7000 cases, utilizing approximately 650 people (440
attorneys) located in Washington DC and six field offices with a budget of $130 million.
Specifically responsible for overseeing all environmental enforcement brought by the
Environmental Enforcement Section and all actions against the United States litigated by
the Environmental Defense Section. Worked with all major agencies of the federal
government and litigated in every court of appeals in the nation. Personally litigated and led
settlement negotiations in numerous environmental cases. On behalf of the State
Department, trained judges in Mexico and worked with federal and states judges in South
America. Led DOJ delegations to international environmental conferences concerning
environmental enforcement. Conducted a number of press conferences and testified multiple
times before both House and Senate. In 2009 and 2010, ENRD was ranked first in the annual
survey of “The Best Places to Work in the Federal Government.”
CHIEF, ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT SECTION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION, 1991-1995
• Supervised 260 people (including 155 attorneys) with nation-wide responsibility for enforcing
federal environmental statutes across the United States. Worked extensively with U.S.
Attorneys and state officials. Argued cases and negotiated major settlements resolving major
environmental cases. Led Administration legislative task force on natural resource damages.
CHIEF LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, 1988-1991
• Served as Senior Counsel for all legislative matters and congressional activities for the
Department of the Army, including meeting with Members of Congress on a routine basis,
overseeing all legislative initiatives, supervising all oversight hearings, meetings, and
traveling with Members of Congress.
SPECIAL COUNSEL TO THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, CIVIL DIVISION, U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, 1987-1988
• Litigated high visibility cases in federal District Courts and Courts of Appeal. Represented
Department of Justice in Presidential Initiative to eliminate illegal drugs in the workplace.
Appeared on TV and a number of radio shows. Briefed President Reagan.
STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE, U.S. ARMY EUROPE, FRANKFURT, GERMANY, 1985-1987
• Senior military attorney responsible for all legal matters in central Europe jurisdiction,
including international negotiations, criminal matters, and civil litigation issues. Supervised
office of 60 people (including 35 attorneys) with branch offices in four locations in Germany.3
CHIEF, ADMINISTRATIVE AND CIVIL LAW DIVISION, THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL’S
SCHOOL, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, 1982-1985
• Led legal division responsible for instructing on all civil law subjects, including
environmental subjects, to senior military and civilian attorneys from all services, including
a year-long LLM equivalent program. Personally taught management and federal civil
procedure subjects. Personally trained new Army general officers about rule of law and legal
responsibilities. Wrote “Environmental Law and National Security” for University of Virginia
Law School textbook. Provided legal instruction to new Army battalion and brigade
commanders.
GENERAL COUNSEL, DEFENSE NUCLEAR AGENCY, WASHINGTON, D.C., 1980-1981
• Senior attorney for a DOD agency. Responsible for all agency legal matters including federal
contracts, litigation, administrative law, and national and international environmental issues.
TRIAL ATTORNEY, LITIGATION DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY AND OFFICE OF
GENERAL COUNSEL, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, 1978-1980
• Litigated high visibility civil law matters on behalf of the Army.
CHIEF, LITIGATION BRANCH, U.S. ARMY EUROPE, 1976-1978
• Supervised office of 30 individuals responsible for civil litigation matters and intelligence
oversight in Europe.
TRIAL ATTORNEY (PROSECUTOR AND DEFENSE COUNSEL), GERMANY, 1975-1976
• Criminal prosecutor and defense counsel in Germany; numerous bench and jury trials
AIRBORNE, RANGER, AND SPECIAL FORCES ASSIGNMENTS IN GERMANY AND VIETNAM, 1969-
1971
EDUCATION
• Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 1982
• Graduate Class, The Judge Advocate Generals School, Charlottesville, VA 1975,
Selected as Outstanding Graduate, Outstanding Thesis
• University of Virginia, Woodrow Wilson School, Charlottesville, VA 1975
Government and Foreign Affairs Master’s Degree with Honors; Thesis: The War Making
Process
• Santa Clara Law School, California J.D., 1974
Summa Cum Laude; Managing Editor, Law Review
• United States Military Academy, West Point, B.S. 1968
Chair, XIX Student Conference on United States Affairs4
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
• Served on the Biden Transition team, 2020-21.
• Served as adjunct professor to George Washington University, 2020-present.
• Served as Elected Member of the Board of Governors of American Bar Association,
2020-2024
• District of Columbia Bar (Largest Unified Bar in the Nation)
− Elected, Board of Governors, 2001-04
− Elected, President-Elect and President, 2004-06
− Immediate Past President, 2006-07
− Chair, Dues Reform Committee, 2007-09
• American Bar Association, Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources
− Council Member, 2003-2007
− Vice Chair, 2007-2008
− Chair Elect, 2008-2009
− Chair, 2009-2010
− Immediate Past Chair, Chair Nominating Committee, 2010-2011
• American Bar Association, House of Delegates
− District of Columbia Representative (elected in 2007 and 2010)
• National Conference of Bar Presidents
− Member, 2004-2010
− Governing Council, Chair Diversity Committee, 2006-2010
• Member, Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services
− U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (appointed by Chief Judge),
2006-2010
• District of Columbia Bar Foundation
− Board of Governors, Chair of Governance Committee, 2008-2014
• Special Olympics Swim Coach, 2001-present
• American Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2009-present
• Member, Administrative Conference of the United States, 2013-2014
• Council on Strategic Risk, Board of Governors, 2022-Present
• Advisory Council and Lecturer, National Judicial College, 2022-present5
• Advisory Council, EARTHX TV, 2022-present
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS
• Who’s Who in America
• Who’s Who in the East
• Who’s Who in American Law
• Who’s Who in American Politics
• Best 500 Lawyers in America, Leading Lawyers in America, Law Dragon
• American College of Environmental Lawyers
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
• District of Columbia Bar Association, Outstanding Government Lawyer
• ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources, Outstanding Government
Lawyer
• University of California Berkley Law School, Distinguished Environment Award
• Muskie-Chaffee Award, US Department of Justice
• Presidential Rank Award, President Barack H. Obama
• Presidential Rank Award, President George W. Bush
• President Rank Award, President William J. Clinton
• Santa Clara Law School, Distinguished Alumni Award
• American Bar Association. Mary K Lawton Award, Outstanding Government Attorney
• Federal Bar Association, Younger Award
• EPA Medal Award (for Court of Appeals argument)
• West Point Society of the District of Columbia, Distinguished Graduate Award
• Judge Advocate Generals Association, Lifetime Achievement Award
• Military Awards, including:
− Bronze Star
− Legion of Merit
− Defense Meritorious Service Medal
− Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star
− Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
• Airborne, Ranger, and Special Forces Designations
• Outstanding Graduate, JAG School Graduate Class
• Fairfax County Volunteer of the Year Award (for work with mentally impaired young
people)
• Eagle Scout
• DC Bar Annual Pro Bono Award has been named the John C. Cruden Award6
TEACHING, LECTURING AND WRITING
Presented the annual environmental lecture to Indiana Law School, Maryland Law School,
Columbia law school, and Maine law school. Will give annual lecture to Vanderbilt Law
School in 2025.
Lectured at over 20 law schools on environmental subjects.
Co-authored 3 books on environmental law subjects.
Published over 15 law review articles, and over 20 magazine articles on environmental subjects.