secretary john & margaret dalton

former secretary of the united states navy
advocate and philanthropist

Washington, DC | Founding/Board Members

John, former Secretary of the Navy, most recently served as the president of the Housing Policy Council as part of The Financial Services Roundtable for more than twelve years. During his tenure as president, he guided the expansion of the Council and its public policy agenda before the administration and Congress. John has had a distinguished career in government beginning as a naval officer.  Serving in the Navy from 1964 to 1969, he attained the rank of lieutenant while serving on active duty and subsequently was promoted to lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He was appointed to three positions within the U.S. government by two U.S. presidents, including his nomination and confirmation to become the 70th Secretary of the Navy. 

Margaret Margaret became a strong voice in the advocacy of quality of life issues within the Navy and Marine Corps during the time her husband served as Secretary of the Navy. She chaired the Informal Network of Quality of Life, a working group composed of spouses of senior uniform and civilian leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps. Her efforts in this area resulted in the construction and renovation of numerous housing communities and significant improvements to the quality of life for sailors and Marines and their families. She continued this interest later working with Friendship Place, an organization working to support the homeless and veterans in many areas. For the 10 years prior to the Covid pandemic, every Wednesday, she along with two others cooked and delivered a hot breakfast for thirty who would be at the Friendship Place welcome center for medical, life and employment consultations. For many years, she has served on the advisory board  of Community Renewal International, an organization committed to rebuilding communities house by house and block by block and where every child is valued and loved. Crime and drug use have declined immeasurably in those areas. Margaret has served in various positions in the Episcopal Church and is currently an active member in the Washington National Cathedral.

Margaret and John have been active in PathNorth since its inception.

They are members of the Whitehead Legacy Circle and for several years have sponsored the Civility Luncheon series.