John Schwarzlose, MA

John Thomas Schwarzlose is the President/Chief Executive Officer of the Betty Ford Center. He was hired by Betty Ford in early 1982, following a national search for a director. John was asked to partner with Drs. Jim West and Joe Cruse to develop the programs and format in order to open the Center for patients in October of 1982. John has proudly worked at Mrs. Ford’s side for the last 27 years. John has a Masters Degrees in Psychology and Business Administration and has worked in the alcoholism/drug addiction treatment field since 1972. His first position was a night counselor in a skid row alcoholism drop-off center. John is a member of the Board of Directors of the Betty Ford Center and the Eisenhower Medical Center. He has served as Chairman and a member of numerous national organizations in the addictions field, has testified in various Senate and House Committees of the U.S. Congress and has appeared on several national news programs speaking about addictive disease. John’s main supporter and advisor for the last 35 years is his wife, Lisa. They have three adult children: Rachel, Mara and John.