John Fries

John Fries is an experienced research professional currently serving as the Director of Research Operations at AARP since October 2007. With nearly 30 years in the field, John has provided strategic leadership in research and business operations, managing critical processes including contracting and budget tracking. John's roles at AARP have included Director of Research Services, overseeing vendor relationships and a substantial annual budget, and Director of Tracking Research, where John developed AARP's impactful tracking research program, the "Attitude, Trend, and Opinion Monitor" (ATOM). Other notable positions include Team Lead for AARP's Integrated Tracking Survey and Senior Research Advisor at Alan Newman Research. John holds a PhD candidacy and a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Virginia, along with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Bridgewater College.