John Garrity is a digital connectivity and data infrastructure expert, focused on translating market economics into policy and regulations for governments and the private sector. As a technology executive, policy advisor, and development economist, he has over twenty years of experience working on information technology and economic development issues in the public sector at the state, federal, and international levels, and in the private sector.
From June 2021 until August 2025, he was Chief of Party for the Better Access and Connectivity (BEACON) project, a $33M U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) program to improve digital connectivity infrastructure, the information and communications technology (ICT) enabling environment, and cybersecurity capacity in the Philippines. Previously, John was the senior connectivity advisor in the Global Development Lab at USAID, leading on the Agency’s operations to extend internet access and adoption to marginalized geographies. In that capacity he managed several large awards with technology firms and implementing partners. Before USAID, John spent ten years at Cisco, as senior manager of policy research managing technology policy engagements and articulating the appropriate policies to expand broadband infrastructure deployment. Previously, he was emerging market strategy manager, responsible for advising Cisco’s emerging markets expansion strategy across 130 countries utilizing macroeconomic analysis and engaging in the public dialogue on the role of information and communications technologies. Prior to Cisco, John was in the Corporate Strategy Group at the World Bank, and held previous roles at the Federal Trade Commission and in state government.
As an independent consultant to public sector and private sector organizations, John was a digital connectivity consultant for the Asian Development Bank; chief technical advisor to UNDP Philippines on digital infrastructure; advisor to Connectivity Capital, a sector-focused investment management firm providing debt capital to Internet Service Providers (ISPs); author of the UN Broadband Commission’s 2019, 2020, and 2021 State of Broadband reports; advisor to the ITU/UNICEF GIGA program to connect every school in the world to the internet; and co-author of the UN ITU “Last-Mile Internet Connectivity Solutions Guide”, among other activities (for example with UNESCAP, others). John serves as a technical advisor to the Network Readiness Index, on the advisory council of the Connect Humanity Fund, has co-authored several reports on technology and development and presented around the world on efforts to close the digital divide.
