John Rakolta Jr. is an American businessman, philanthropist, and diplomat of Romanian descent who served as the United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 2019 to 2021.

Born on 15 June 1947 in Oakland County, Michigan, to a family with deep roots in the construction industry, he grew up in a third-generation Romanian-American household, with all four of his grandparents having immigrated from Romania.

John Rakolta earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Marquette University in 1970 and later completed the Smaller Company Management Program at Harvard Business School, equipping him for a career in business leadership.

John Rakolta joined the family-owned construction firm Walbridge Aldinger later known simply as Walbridge in 1971, starting in roles such as project engineer and estimator before rising to chief operating officer in 1975, president in 1979, and succeeding his father as chairman and chief executive officer in 1993. 

Under his leadership, the Detroit-headquartered company grew into one of the largest privately held contractors in the United States, undertaking major projects worldwide while maintaining a focus on innovation, safety, and community involvement.

Beyond business, he served as Romania's Honorary Consul General in Detroit from 1996 until assuming his ambassadorship, fostering economic and cultural ties between the United States and Romania, and chaired New Detroit from 2003 to 2010, promoting racial reconciliation and civic engagement in the region.

Active in Republican politics, he emerged as a major fundraiser, serving as a national finance chair for Mitt Romney's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, supporting George W. Bush in 2004, and acting as state finance chair for Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.

He advised Donald Trump's 2016 transition team and, in May 2018, was nominated by President Trump as ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, with the Senate confirming him on 17 September 2019 by a 63–30 vote.

During his tenure, John Rakolta played a pivotal role in brokering the Abraham Accords, facilitating the historic normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE in 2020, and served as commissioner general for the U.S. pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. His diplomatic efforts earned him the U.S. National Security Medal in 2020 and the UAE's Zayed II Medal in 2021.

His public service extended to education and community initiatives in Detroit, including collaborations with the public school system and the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition to enhance economic opportunities and civic participation.

He has received numerous accolades, such as the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship in 2005, Michiganian of the Year in 2018, and the Urban Land Institute Michigan Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, reflecting his contributions to business, philanthropy, and international relations.

Married to Terry Rakolta, with whom he has four children - Eileen, Lauren, Paige, and John III - he continues to reside in Michigan and remains active in corporate and civic affairs following the end of his ambassadorship on 19 January 2021.