Mr. Joshua Kaufman

Joshua Kaufman is a retired public policy leader and long-time champion of human development, both in Howard County and around the world.  Most recently serving as part of the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) Senior Leadership Group, Mr. Kaufman’s work included leading efforts to develop USAID’s last Policy Framework (USAID’s highest-level policy) and the Joint USAID-Department of State Strategic Plan.  

During the COVID 19 pandemic, Kaufman co-chaired a National Security Council working group that created the COVID 19 Global Response and Recovery Framework used to guide the United State’s global response to the pandemic. Kaufman also served as USAID’s head of evaluation and as Chief Evaluation Official, responsible for all of USAID’s program evaluations, research and data.     

From 2003-2006, Kaufman was a member and Chair of the Howard County Board of Education.  Additionally, Mr. Kaufman was the Chair of the County Ethics Commission, and at various times was a member of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, the Spending Affordability Committee and the Human Rights Commission.  Kaufman is currently on the executive committee of the Heather Choices Coalition, a group of civic organizations that work to ensure that every Howard County family can easily access quality, affordable and nutritious food

A Howard County resident since 1995, Kaufman lives in Elkridge, Maryland with his wife.  They have two grown children who attended school in Howard County.