I am running for Congress because the people of this district deserve a representative who can help get our country back on the right track.

It's time to focus on creating jobs and growing the economy without burdening our children and grandchildren with more debt.

I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail and respectfully ask for your support in November.

Biography

John J. Loughlin II, of Tiverton, Rhode Island, is a three term State Representative and House Minority Whip representing District 71 in the Rhode Island General Assembly. When no one else was willing to take on Patrick Kennedy, Loughlin took on the challenge and in April of 2008 announced his intention to run for Congress in Rhode Island’s first congressional district.

John grew up in Lincoln, RI and was active in the Boy Scouts of America, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the State University of New York. John also served as a volunteer fireman and EMT while attending the University of Rhode Island.

In 1978, John enlisted in the Rhode Island National Guard, graduating from Officer Candidate School in 1982, Armor Basic Course in 1983 and the US Army Aviation Center, Helicopter Flight School in 1984.

John spent 10 years on flight status as a helicopter pilot, flying missions in a variety of Army helicopters including the UH-1 Huey, the OH-6 Cayuse and the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior. In 1986, John went to work full-time for the Rhode Island National Guard as the Adjutant General’s Public Affairs Officer. During this period of service he was the press spokesman for the National Guard during snow related emergencies, an oil spill and the attack of a sniper in Northern Rhode Island.

In 1990, John was selected as a Public Affairs Officer for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in Greenbelt, Maryland and later NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. During this time he received numerous awards including special recognition for STS-37, the Space Shuttle Atlantis mission and STS-48 the Space Shuttle Discovery mission. It was during STS-48 that John worked as the voice-of-payload-operations-center-control during the launch and deployment of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite.

John was twice mobilized for active duty during his 26 year military career, and saw duty in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1995 and 1996 and Ft. Bragg, North Carolina in 2003 training units for duty in Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In December 2004, John retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Reserve after completing more than twenty-six years of service. He remains very active with veterans groups and serves in the Rhode Island House as a member of the Veteran's Affairs Committee.

John currently owns and operates Media-Rite LLC, a television, radio and film production company. Media-Rite produces both corporate industrial productions as well as television commercials for a wide range of local and national clients.
He is married to the former Susan Brush and they have two daughters, Victoria and Carrie.