Reynold Hoover Named Chief Executive Officer of LA28

A retired three-star lieutenant general in the United States Army who also had various roles in the federal government, Reynold Hoover was named as Chief Executive Officer for the LA28 organizing committee on Wednesday.

Hoover succeeds Kathy Carter, who stepped down as chief executive officer in December 2023. Carter oversaw LA28’s founding partnerships and led a partnership with NBCUniversal to give brands elevated opportunity around the Games. LA28 also announced a global hospitality program in collaboration with On Location.

“Helping to deliver an Olympic and Paralympic Games on American soil will serve as the capstone of my career in public service,” said Hoover. “Sport is a powerful convening force and it is the opportunity of a lifetime to bring the Los Angeles community, the nation and the world together through the Games. I look forward to working with LA28’s talented team and the many dedicated community and business partners to help deliver another successful Games in LA.”

In mid-October 2023, the IOC approved the LA28 sports program with cricket, flag football,  lacrosse, squash and baseball/softball added. Venue changes to the plans for the 2028 Olympic Summer Games in Los Angeles will be rolled out throughout this year, it was said in April the general assembly of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations in Birmingham, England.

“Reynold is one of the few people in the nation who possesses the operational and logistics expertise that the Olympic and Paralympic Games require,” said LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman. “He’s been tasked with some of our nation’s most complex challenges and we are fortunate to have him on our team as we prepare to welcome the world in 2028.”

Hoover will direct the Organizing Committee’s day-to-day work and report to Wasserman. Hoover will begin at LA28 on June 10.

“I met with Reynold last week to discuss our shared priorities, including preparing our entire region to host the Games and to ensure this event leaves lasting benefits for our community,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “I look forward to forging a close, collaborative relationship as we work together to prepare for the 2028 Games.”

A U.S. Army and National Guard veteran, Hoover earned the rank of Lieutenant General, with three stars. Most recently, Hoover served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs from 2016 until he retired in 2018. Among his many military assignments, he oversaw logistics as Commander, Joint Sustainment Command Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom from 2009 until 2010, and he commanded the 167th Theater Sustainment Command from 2011 until 2014.

Hoover’s early military career was focused on explosive ordnance disposal, including during Operation Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991. He also provided military explosive ordnance disposal support at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Hoover also served in several senior civilian roles in the federal government, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency as Chief of Staff from 2002-2003, then as Director, Office of National Security Coordination from 2003-2005. He also served as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for Homeland Security from 2005-2007; and, worked as Deputy Director, Office of Public Affairs and Logistics Support Officer at the Central Intelligence Agency from 2011 until 2016, retiring in 2018.

Since his retirement from the military, Hoover has served as Senior Mentor at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, as a Senior Fellow at the McCrary Institute at Auburn University and was a member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council. His work in the private sector includes positions at CSX Intermodal and CSX Transportation, and as a commercial litigation attorney. He is a member of the Florida and District of Columbia Bar, and the Council on Foreign Relations.