John Cahill

Vice Chairman

As Vice Chairman of O’Neill and Associates, John Cahill oversees O’Neill and Associates’ federal relations practice. He specializes in national and federal issues related to transportation, healthcare, education, homeland security, and finance.

Drawing upon nearly thirty years of experience, John has advised clients such as the Massachusetts Port Authority, MBTA, Wheaton College, Point32, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, L-3 Security Systems, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation, Legal Sea Foods, American Express Centurion Lounge, MAAPS, Cape and Islands Bridges Coalition, and Solix. Currently, John serves on the Board of Directors of A Better City. The Boston Herald lists John among Boston’s ten most powerful people (“Hub’s Power 10”). Highlights of John’s work include:

• Led the federal authorization, legislative and funding lobbying team on behalf of the $14.7 billion Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project beginning in 1983.
• Developed and implemented the federal funding bipartisan strategy for the Boston Harbor Cleanup, including securing the first $100 million appropriation for the project and ensuring subsequent federal funding in ensuing years.
• Designed and implemented the bipartisan federal funding strategy for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s $2 billion Tren Urbano public transit project.
• Advised Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) on federal transit legislation from 2003 through 2005.
• Advised and developed federal strategy for the Massachusetts Port Authority’s successful pursuit of a $42 million US DOT Fast Lane grant throughout 2016-2017.

Prior to joining O’Neill and Associates, John served as Director of External Affairs for Massport, which operates Logan International Airport, the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field, and leads on other economic development initiatives. In this position, John was responsible for all federal, state, and local activities of Massport, including legislative and policy matters related to operation and finance and working closely with the aviation, finance, media, and legal departments.

Additionally, John participated in Massport’s bipartisan congressional effort to gain federal approval of its $143 million reimbursement from the Transportation Security Administration based upon its first in the nation baggage security system following September 11, 2001.

John began his career in Washington, DC, working in the Office of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, followed by service as a Special Assistant for Economic Development in the Massachusetts Office of Federal State Relations.

John is a graduate of the University of South Florida. He is also an alumnus of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, where he concentrated in international law, international economics, and Middle Eastern studies.