William R. Elwood advances policy priorities and forges durable partnerships with state and local officials nationwide. A public affairs, communications, and government relations leader, he has shaped regional and national policy outcomes in regulated, consumer-facing industries.

Will has worked extensively across the West Coast with lawmakers, health agencies, and governors’ offices in California, Oregon, and Washington on regulatory modernization and emerging policy challenges requiring coordinated action. His work focuses on how policy decisions and political dynamics affect institutions, industries, and the communities they serve.

Originally from Arkansas, Will’s passion for politics ignited early through a unique connection with his grandmother, with whom he memorized the names of the presidents over Sunday breakfast in Little Rock. That early fascination evolved into a career focused on regulatory policy and building trusted relationships across government and industry.

Will’s career includes leadership roles at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where he served as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the FDA Commissioner’s Office. In this role, he led national communications and engagement with all 50 states, cultivating relationships with elected officials and regulators. He directed FDA’s initial outreach to state and local officials to gather early data on adverse events related to loperamide misuse, crafting a coordinated response that led to collaboration with manufacturers to update drug warning labels and consumer packaging safeguards. His work reinforced regulatory consistency while protecting product integrity and public trust. He received the FDA Outstanding Service Award from Commissioner Scott Gottlieb for his sustained contributions to protect public health.

Beginning his federal career in 2014 as a Presidential Management Fellow, Will joined FDA’s newly formed state relations team and quickly became a trusted advisor on sensitive intergovernmental matters. He briefed senior leaders, including FDA Commissioners across multiple administrations, on trending legislation and regulatory risks affecting national distribution systems. Promoted to Director in 2020, he led FDA’s engagement with state and local governments during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, reinforcing critical relationships during an unprecedented crisis. His cross-jurisdictional work with state officials, the EPA, Department of Defense, and White House strengthened coordination across government and industry during a period of heightened scrutiny. When no scientific standard existed to determine whether the chemicals detected in a commercial facility posed a public health risk, Will advised FDA’s Center for Food Safety to develop and conduct a test, enabling regulators to assess the issue quickly and confidently. He led national coordination on this front, and was the U.S. Government’s point person for all state and federal stakeholders, as well as industry, throughout the process.

Before joining FDA, Will worked on political campaigns across the country, building a strong foundation in communication and coalition-building. That experience shaped a leadership style defined by sound judgment, diplomatic acuity, and an intuitive understanding of how people and institutions work. He builds relationships that help organizations operate effectively in complex public environments, always with personality, humor, and care.

Will earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Oklahoma State University and a master’s in public affairs from Cornell. He is an avid long-distance runner and lifelong admirer of James Thurber. He lives, and runs, in Los Angeles.