Decorated veteran.
Trusted expert.
Proven in court.
John R. Ballinger III has spent 35 years building expertise that moves cases. Insurance broker. Public adjuster. Civil mediator. Decorated US Army veteran. He has been retained by both plaintiff and defense counsel.
Policy Forms Expert · 15,000 Hours of Claims and Underwriting Experience · US Army Veteran
35 Years of Experience That Speaks for Itself
John R. Ballinger III has spent more than three decades building his expertise. He began his career in the United States Army in the mid-80s.
He spent his entire military career in aviation maintenance, safety, and site investigation. From Desert Storm to Operation Noble Eagle to Enduring Freedom, John’s service earned him multiple commendations, including the Army Commendation Medal. He concluded his time in the military, in the early 2000s as a decorated Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.
After his military career, John channeled that same methodical approach and discipline into the insurance and risk management industry. He became a licensed insurance broker in 2004, earned a surplus lines license in 2008, and built Ballinger and Associates into a recognized authority in risk, claims, and civil mediation. He is a licensed public adjuster in Tennessee and Georgia, has personally managed claims totaling over $50 million, and has served as a fractional Chief Risk Officer for multiple corporations.
In 2023, John earned his Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Civil Mediator license and immediately began applying his deep insurance expertise to complex civil mediations. His ability to understand both sides of an insurance dispute from a technical standpoint, policy language, carrier obligations, claims handling standards, makes him uniquely effective as both a neutral mediator and a plaintiff or defense expert witness.
Today, John is a member of the American Association of Insurance Management Consultants (AAIMCo), the Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators (TAPM), the Tennessee Captive Insurance Association, and serves as Chairman of the Board for the Global Faith Leadership Network. He has been retained on more than 110 expert-witness and trial-strategy cases.
Licenses and Certifications
All licenses are current and in good standing.
TN Supreme Court Rule 31 Civil Mediator and Family Mediator
Tennessee Supreme Court, Civil Issued 2023, Family Issued 2025
Surplus Lines License
License 911945-1, Issued 2008
Insurance Broker
License 911945, Issued 2004
Public Adjuster
NPN 8143081, Licensed in Tennessee and Georgia
Property and Casualty Insurance
License 911945
Life and Health Insurance
License 911945
Licensed to conduct insurance business in multiple states across the United States.
United States Army Service
John's military career was not a starting point he left behind. The precision, risk methodology, and accountability structures he built during his years of Army Aviation safety are exactly what he applies to every insurance case and litigation matter he touches today.
He earned the Army Commendation Medal for his service during Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom, was named Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for the Tennessee Army National Guard. He holds over a dozen awards and certifications in aviation safety and risk management.
Education
American Military University
Bachelor of Science, Psychology
United States Military
Safety and Risk Management Certificates
Professional Affiliations
AAIMCo, American Association of Insurance Management Consultants
2026 to Present
Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators
2026 to Present
Tennessee Captive Insurance Association
2023 to Present
National Association of Christian Athletes, President and CEO
2018 to Present
Global Faith Leadership Network, Chairman of the Board
2025 to Present