Chris McCleary joins the U.S. Chess Center as Executive Director
Chris McCleary has been appointed the new Executive Director of the U.S. Chess Center.
The U.S. Chess Center is a DC-based non-profit that promotes self-confidence, social skills, and academic success for all. The U.S. Chess Center provides students throughout the Washington metropolitan area opportunities to meet as friends and equals over the chessboard at our weekend classes, tournaments, and special events. The Center also operates numerous embedded school chess clubs and classes. Our student programs have hosted World Champion Garry Kasparov, the national champions of Nigeria and Montenegro, and International Grandmasters including Maurice Ashley, the first African American Grandmaster. Our students have played Internet matches with students from the Czech Republic, China, Norway, and Montenegro.
Chris McCleary’s first official day with the U.S. Chess Center will be Monday, August 17th. As Executive Director, McCleary will have responsibility for the day-to-day management and administration of the Center as well as resource and program development. McCleary will be taking over from Robert Teachey, a United States Chess Federation Certified Advanced Chess Coach who was promoted to Executive Director of the Chess Center in 2017 and has served as a Teacher since 2010.
Prior to joining the U.S. Chess Center, Chris McCleary served as the Vice President of Development for Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) and in the same position for SAFE’s sister organization, The Electrification Coalition. McCleary is also the Chief Operating Officer of McCleary Psychological Services, a mental health practice that provides evidence-based therapy and psychological evaluations. Chris also previously served as Development Director and chief fundraiser for the National Archives Foundation—the 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)—and before that he held a series of senior management and fundraising roles with several DC-area think tanks and advocacy organizations, including Third Way, the Sunlight Foundation, and NDN & the New Policy Institute. Before embarking on his non-profit career, McCleary spent over a decade as a political consultant and fundraiser for dozens of campaigns across the country. McCleary holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University.
