Kent, Jonathan H.

Jon Kent is an experienced lobbyist before the Congress and the federal regulatory agencies. Specializing in trade and trademark intellectual property legislation, almost all of the legislation in these areas passed in the last fifteen years bears his imprint and that of Kent & O'Connor clients. More recently, client concerns are addressed in the customs provisions in various statutes, notably customs authorization and port security legislation passed by the Congress.

Coming from Capitol Hill, where he served as Chief of Staff to one Congressman and Appropriations Committee staff for another, Kent founded Kent & O'Connor, Incorporated, with Patrick O'Connor in 1979. Since then, Jon Kent has become the acknowledged private sector spokesperson for several companies and associations in the import-export business. As legislative representative for the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association, Kent has been closely involved in CBP’s and TSA’s regulatory and legislative agendas. An area of particular concern has been the evolution of the Administration’s post-9/11 approach to homeland security, where the association’s efforts have focused on keeping newly emerging policy in harmony with commercial trade.  Presently, he represents NCBFAA as a member of the steering committee of the Joint Industry Group, a participant in an informal TSA private sector working group, and as the Association’s spokesman before the Congress.

Jon Kent is also an advocate for the US Army Reserve in his spare time, serving as an Ambassador for the District of Columbia and acting as the Chief, Army Reserve’s spokesman on community and Army-related legislation.  He is also a husband, father of four, and grandfather of five.