John O'Trakoun is a senior policy economist in the Research Department. Before joining the Richmond Fed in September 2020, O'Trakoun was a senior economist at Ford Motor Company, where he analyzed and forecasted economic trends and their impact on the automotive industry. Previously, he was a senior economist in international affairs and trade at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. He also served as a teaching fellow in economics at Boston College, where he earned his doctorate and masters degree.