[3] He served as the senior foreign affairs advisor to Indiana governors Mitch Daniels, Mike Pence, and Eric Holcomb.

Akard served as the chief of staff, vice president and general counsel, and director for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

Beginning January 2017, he served as senior advisor and acting chief of staff in the Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.

[4] In March 2018, he withdrew his nomination after State Department officials and lawmakers raised objections that the role should be filled by a more experienced career diplomat and someone less politically connected to the Trump administration.

After the firing of incumbent inspector general of the Department of State Steve Linick in May 2020, President Donald Trump announced that Akard would be named as his successor.