Former GOP presidential hopeful Huntsman moves to Brookings Institution

Former GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman (R) will join the liberal-leaning Brookings Institution, the research and policy group announced Wednesday, serving as a distinguished fellow.

Huntsman, who also served as governor of Utah, ran for the GOP nomination for the presidency in 2012, but dropped out in January of this year. He has served under four U.S. presidents in a variety of positions, including ambassador to China under President Obama.

“We are delighted that Governor Huntsman has agreed to join Brookings,” Brookings President Strobe Talbott said in a statement. “As we try to address America’s domestic and foreign policy challenges, Jon’s extraordinary government service at home and abroad will be a great benefit to the Institution.”

Huntsman served as governor of Utah for five years before working for the Obama administration. He also served former President George W. Bush as a deputy U.S. trade representative and trade ambassador.

Before that, he served former President George H.W. Bush as deputy assistant secretary for trade development and commerce for East Asian and Pacific affairs and as U.S. ambassador to Singapore. In addition, Huntsman worked in the Reagan administration as a White House staff assistant. He writes a weekly column for The Hill.

Huntsman has endorsed presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

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