WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is pleased to announce the selection of Larry Wright, Jr. (Ponca Tribe of Nebraska) as its new Executive Director. In this position, Wright will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the organization and creating a strategic pathway to long-term success for NCAI and the NCAI Fund. Wright will report directly to the NCAI Executive Committee.

Wright, a former tribal chairman of 11 years, has been serving as the Acting Executive Director at NCAI in addition to his role as the Director of Leadership Engagement for the organization.

“NCAI is excited to welcome and congratulate Larry Wright, Jr. in his new role within the organization,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “He is a familiar face to many after having served as Chairman of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska for more than a decade and serving as a board member of several tribal organizations across the country—including NCAI. His experience advocating on behalf of Tribal Nations coupled with his unique understanding of the critical role NCAI plays to protect and advance tribal sovereignty make him the ideal candidate to lead this organization forward.”

Before joining NCAI as a member of its staff, Wright represented the Great Plains Region as the Area Vice President for the NCAI Executive Committee. In addition, Wright served as a board member for the National Indian Health Board, as Chairman of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs Board of Directors, and as Chairman of the Nebraska Inter-Tribal Coalition.

Wright is a military veteran who brings with him a diverse background in education, management, and entrepreneurship. He previously served as a secondary social studies teacher in Lincoln, Nebraska Public Schools and owned a general contracting business.

“Larry’s appointment is an example of the NCAI Executive Committee’s thoughtful commitment to building a strong organization from within, and we are confident that NCAI will benefit from Larry’s demonstrated history of leadership and ability to address the needs of Tribal Nations,” said Sharp. “We look forward to working together to build a stronger, more responsive organization that will continue to fiercely defend tribal sovereignty just as we have since our inception in 1944.”

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