Cam Henderson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 33rdChief of Protocol of the United States | |
| In office August 12, 2019 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Sean Lawler |
| Succeeded by | Rufus Gifford |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Katherine Camille Henderson Chattanooga,Tennessee, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | American University (BA) |
Katherine Camille "Cam"Henderson is an American diplomat who served asChief of Protocol of the United States from August 12, 2019 to January 20, 2021.
Henderson was born inChattanooga,Tennessee, and graduated fromAmerican University. At the beginning of her career, she worked for PresidentGeorge W. Bush in theWhite House Presidential Personnel Office, on Bush'sre-election campaign in 2004, and at theRepublican National Committee.[1]
From 2010 to 2012, Henderson served as New Jersey first ladyMary Pat Christie's chief of staff and director of protocol. In 2013, she became the executive director of theHurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, which was created by Christie's wife.[1]
Henderson went on to serve as former New Jersey governorChris Christie's finance director during hispresidential campaign in 2016. Christie lost the campaign toDonald Trump, who won the election. After Trump's inauguration, she joined his administration as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Presidential Personnel Office.[1]
Henderson joined theU.S. State Department in mid-2017 as Deputy Chief of Protocol underSean Lawler. As Deputy Chief of Protocol, Henderson was publicly thanked by Ireland's Ambassador to the United StatesDaniel Mulhall.[2] Henderson left the U.S. State Department in January 2019.[3]
On August 12, 2019, Henderson returned to the U.S. State Department and took office asChief of Protocol of the United States.[1] As part of her work, Henderson led the Office of Protocol at the U.S. State Department to welcome visiting dignitaries to the United States. She also traveled with the president to facilitate foreign trips.
On March 5, 2020, Henderson was nominated to theUnited States Senate for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as Chief of Protocol.[4] On January 3, 2021, her nomination was returned to the President underRule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of theUnited States Senate.[5]
On September 15, 2020, Henderson organized the signing of theAbraham Accords on theSouth Lawn of the White House with U.S. PresidentDonald Trump, Minister of Foreign Affairs of BahrainAbdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Foreign Affairs for the United Arab EmiratesAbdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.[6]
In October 2020,The Huffington Post alleged that an unpublished report claimed unnamed employees anonymously expressed concerns to the State Department OIG hotline about alcohol consumption during representational events. Top U.S. State Department OfficialUlrich Brechbuhl responded on behalf of the department calling the claims "particularly egregious" and added, "The world would be a better place if organizations like the Huffington Post and the person responsible for leaking internal documents had the character and heart displayed daily by Ms. Henderson."[7]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chief of Protocol of the United States 2019–2021 | Succeeded by |
