American community activist and former diplomat
Patrick Hubert Gaspard [ 1] [ 2] Center for American Progress , a liberalthink tank .
A notedDemocratic Party leader and strategist,[ 3] Democratic National Committee from 2011 to 2013.[ 4] United States Ambassador to South Africa from 2013 to 2016.[ 5] Open Society Foundations from 2017 to 2020.
Patrick Hubert Gaspard was born inKinshasa ,Democratic Republic of Congo , to parents fromHaiti . His parents had moved to Congo at the behest of revolutionary leaderPatrice Lumumba , who urged French-speaking professionals to move to the country.[ 6]
Gaspard moved with his parents to the United States when he was three years old, and he was raised inNew York City .[ 7] [ 8] Brooklyn Technical High School [ 9] Columbia University from 1984 to 1987.
New York City politics [ edit ] Gaspard's political career began in New York City, where he worked onJesse Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign . In the1989 New York City mayoral election , Gaspard worked onDavid Dinkins ' successful campaign.[ 10]
Gaspard went on to serve as a special assistant in the Office of theManhattan Borough President and as a special assistant in Dinkins' mayoral office. From 1998 to 1999, Gaspard was chief of staff to theNew York City Council .[ 11] [ 12]
Gaspard was an advisor on Bill de Blasio's successful bid in the2013 New York City mayoral election . Then-Public Advocate de Blasio personally thanked him in his primary victory speech, one of the few non-family members mentioned.[ 13] Bill Thompson following a contentious contest.[ 14]
From 2003 to 2004, he worked for GovernorHoward Dean 's2004 presidential campaign as the National Deputy Field Director, and in 2004, was the National Field Director forAmerica Coming Together .[ 15] 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East labor union ,[ 16] [ 17] [ 18]
Gaspard initially rejected the opportunity to work onBarack Obama 'spresidential campaign in 2007 but later got theSEIU to endorse him. He officially joined the campaign as a political director in June 2008.[ 19]
Obama Administration and DNC [ edit ] After Obama's election, he was named as Associate Personnel Director of President-elect Obama'stransition team underJim Messina .[ 20] White House Office of Political Affairs for theObama administration from January 2009–11.[ 21] [ 22]
Gaspard served as the Executive Director of theDemocratic National Committee from 2011–13, overseeing the party committee's efforts to re-elect President Obama.[ 22]
Ambassador Gaspard in 2014 with South Africa's Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mzwandile Masina. Ambassador to South Africa [ edit ] It was leaked in March 2013 that President Obama was planning to nominate Gaspard to the post ofUnited States Ambassador to South Africa .[ 23] [ 24] [ 25] [ 26]
As Ambassador to South Africa, Gaspard worked to strengthen civil society and worked in partnership with the South African government to develop the country’s healthcare infrastructure and land ownership mitigation and to support innovations in local governance.[ 27] [ 28] PEPFAR to more efficiently work withinSouth Africa's healthcare system .[ 29]
Post-ambassadorship career [ edit ] In September 2017, Gaspard replacedChris Stone as president of theOpen Society Foundations .[ 30] Mark Malloch Brown , a British Lord, Baron, and diplomat.[ 31] 2020 presidential election , media outlets reported that Gaspard was under consideration for the role ofSecretary of Labor . However, this position was instead filled byBoston Mayor Marty Walsh .[ 32] 2021 New York City mayoral election , Gaspard reportedly advisedMaya Wiley on her campaign.[ 33]
On June 30, 2021, liberal think tankCenter for American Progress (CAP) announced that Gaspard would become its President and CEO, replacingNeera Tanden who left to become an advisor toJoe Biden .[ 34] Politico described Gaspard's new role as "powerful," due to the Biden administration's close ties to CAP.[ 35]
In May 2024, Gaspard forcefully defended the right of United States university students toprotest the growinghumanitarian crisis inGaza during theGaza war .[ 36]
Gaspard is married and has two children.[ 37] Catholic .[ 38]
Gaspard is known for his love of poetry, and has cited poet and politicianAimé Césaire as a key inspiration of his. Gaspard is also an admirer of Russian poetAnna Akhmatova . Gaspard has reportedly taken part inacting andspoken word performances in his spare time.[ 39]
Gaspard has received honorary doctorates fromColumbia University (2018)[ 40] Bard College (2021).[ 41]
Gaspard is a close friend ofBill de Blasio , the 109thMayor of New York City . The pair met while working on David Dinkins' 1989 mayoral campaign,[ 42] Caribbean : Gaspard's parents are from Haiti.[ 43]
^ "Nominations of the 113th Congress - First Session" (PDF) .[[United States Senate] . July 24, 2013. p. 3.^ "Patrick Gaspard - Center for American Progress (July 2021-), President and CEO - Biography | LegiStorm" .^ "Patrick Gaspard" .The Washington Post Politics . RetrievedJune 13, 2019 .^ "Patrick Gaspard" .Center for American Progress . June 30, 2021. RetrievedOctober 7, 2021 .^ Spector, J. Brooks (July 29, 2014)."US Ambassador Patrick Gaspard, up close and pretty personal" .Daily Maverick . RetrievedJune 13, 2019 . ^ "PATRICK GASPARD" .Embassy of Haiti . RetrievedOctober 7, 2021 .^ Elliott, Stuart (January 18, 2009)." .The New York Times Magazine . RetrievedJune 29, 2010 . ^ "PATRICK GASPARD" .Embassy of Haiti . RetrievedJuly 21, 2021 .^ "The Buzz - April 13, 2018 - Brooklyn Tech Alumni Foundation" .www.bthsalumni.org . Archived fromthe original on October 7, 2021. RetrievedJune 26, 2019 .^ McLeod, Courtney (September 2006). "Rising Stars: 35 under 40; The next generation of political leaders in New York".City Hall News . ^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts" .whitehouse.gov . RetrievedAugust 18, 2018 – viaNational Archives .^ Pillifant, Reid (February 15, 2013)."Patrick Gaspard is Obama's 'likely' choice for ambassador to South Africa" .Politico PRO . RetrievedOctober 7, 2021 . ^ Fermino, Jennifer (September 14, 2013)."Bill de Blasio campaign driven by political mix of former Clinton and Obama aides, U.S. ambassador to South Africa, and local talent" .New York Daily News ^ Powell, Nick (September 18, 2013)."Ambassador Bridged Divide Between de Blasio and Thompson" .City & State the original on September 18, 2013. RetrievedSeptember 18, 2013 . ^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts" .whitehouse.gov . RetrievedAugust 18, 2018 – viaNational Archives .^ Stein, Sam (January 4, 2009)."Patrick Gaspard: Obama's Glue Man" .HuffPost . RetrievedJune 26, 2019 . ^ Sherman, Jake (June 28, 2010)."White House aide failed to disclose $40K payout" .Politico . RetrievedJune 29, 2010 .^ McCallister, Jared (June 27, 2008)."Haitian American labor leader Patrick Gaspard in key job with Barack Obama" .Daily News the original on March 16, 2009. RetrievedJune 29, 2010 . ^ Bacon Jr., Perry (March 4, 2013)."Patrick Gaspard, top Obama aide, headed to South Africa as ambassador - theGrio" .theGrio . RetrievedAugust 18, 2018 . ^ "Obama Names Transition Team" .U.S. News & World Report . RetrievedJune 29, 2010 .^ Elliott, Stuart (January 18, 2009)." .The New York Times Magazine . RetrievedJune 29, 2010 . ^a b Smith, Ben (January 20, 2011)."Gaspard to DNC, Dillon to re-elect" Politico ^ Bacon Jr., Perry (March 4, 2013)."Patrick Gaspard, top Obama aide, headed to South Africa as ambassador - theGrio" .theGrio . RetrievedAugust 18, 2018 . ^ "Congressional Testimony of Patrick H. Gaspard Ambassador Designate to the Republic of South Africa Before the Committee on Foreign Relations United States Senate" (PDF) .www.foreign.senate.gov . July 24, 2013. RetrievedJune 17, 2019 .^ VP Biden (Archived) [@VP44] (August 26, 2013)."Today at the @whitehouse, VP will ceremonially swear-in Patrick Gaspard as U.S. Amb. to South Africa. Stay tuned for a photo. @USEmbPretoria" (Tweet ) – viaTwitter . ^ "Haitian-American Patrick Gaspard was sworn as US Ambassador to South Africa" . October 24, 2013. Archived fromthe original on October 24, 2013. RetrievedAugust 18, 2018 .^ Spector, J. Brooks (July 30, 2014)."US Ambassador Patrick Gaspard, up close and pretty personal" .Daily Maverick . RetrievedJune 26, 2019 . ^ "Patrick Gaspard to Step Down as Head of Open Society Foundations" .Open Society Foundations . RetrievedJanuary 17, 2017 .^ "Newsroom" .Howard Newsroom . RetrievedOctober 10, 2021 .^ "Patrick Gaspard to Step Down as Head of Open Society Foundations" .Open Society Foundations . RetrievedJanuary 17, 2017 .^ Financial Times (London), October 17, 2017[1] .^ Nichols, Hans (December 4, 2020)."President of Soros foundation leaves amid speculation of potential Biden role" .Axios . RetrievedJuly 21, 2021 . ^ Goldenberg, Sally (September 11, 2020)."Former de Blasio aide Alison Hirsh to join Maya Wiley's potential mayoral bid" .Politico PRO . RetrievedOctober 7, 2021 . ^ Preiss, Allison (June 30, 2021)."RELEASE: Patrick Gaspard Named President and CEO of the Center for American Progress, CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund" . AmericanProgress.org. RetrievedNovember 30, 2020 .Patrick Gaspard has been named president and CEO of the Center for American Progress and CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAP Action), the organizations announced today. Gaspard will be the third president and CEO of CAP since the organization was founded in 2003, succeeding Neera Tanden and John Podesta. ^ Stein, Sam; Korecki, Natasha (June 30, 2021)."The most influential think tank of the Biden era has a new leader" .Politico . RetrievedJuly 27, 2021 .His [Patrick Gaspard's] hiring ends a monthslong process to find a replacement for Neera Tanden, who left the post to become a senior adviser to President Joe Biden. And it immediately makes the 53-year-old Haitian-American one of the most powerful players in progressive politics outside of elected office. ^ Gaspard, Patrick (May 6, 2024)."American politicians forget: disruption and disorder are the point of protests" .The Guardian ISSN 0261-3077 . RetrievedMay 6, 2024 . ^ Stein, Sam (January 4, 2009)."Patrick Gaspard: Obama's Glue Man" .HuffPost . RetrievedJune 26, 2019 . ^ Gaspard, Patrick (October 25, 2024)."Post" .X . RetrievedDecember 1, 2024 . ^ "Patrick Gaspard Writes Poems, Collects Comics, Kills for Obama" .Observer . June 23, 2009. RetrievedOctober 7, 2021 .^ "Office of the Secretary: Patrick Gaspard" .Columbia University . RetrievedJune 5, 2024 .^ Relations, Bard Public."Bard College Holds One Hundred Sixty-First Commencement on Saturday, May 29, 2021 | Bard College Public Relations" .www.bard.edu . RetrievedJune 6, 2024 . ^ Smith, Chris (October 25, 2013)."The 99% Mayor" .New York . RetrievedJuly 21, 2021 . ^ Fermino, Jennifer (September 14, 2013)."Bill de Blasio campaign driven by political mix of former Clinton and Obama aides, U.S. ambassador to South Africa, and local talent" .New York Daily News ^ Board of Trustees Central European University (CEU).^ Governance Paris Peace Forum .
Office Name Term Office Name Term White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel 2009–10 National Security Advisor James L. Jones 2009–10 Pete Rouse 2010–11 Thomas E. Donilon 2010–13 William M. Daley 2011–12 Susan Rice 2013–17 Jack Lew 2012–13 Deputy National Security Advisor Thomas E. Donilon 2009–10 Denis McDonough 2013–17 Denis McDonough 2010–13 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for PolicyMona Sutphen 2009–11 Antony Blinken 2013–14 Nancy-Ann DeParle 2011–13 Avril Haines 2015–17 Rob Nabors 2013–15 Dep. National Security Advisor, Homeland Security John O. Brennan 2009–13 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Jim Messina 2009–11 Lisa Monaco 2013–17 Alyssa Mastromonaco 2011–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Iraq and Afghanistan Douglas Lute † 2009–13 Anita Decker Breckenridge 2014–17 Dep. National Security Advisor, Strategic Comm. Ben Rhodes 2009–17 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning Mark B. Childress 2012–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Chief of Staff Mark Lippert 2009 Kristie Canegallo 2014–17 Denis McDonough 2009–10 Counselor to the President Pete Rouse 2011–13 Brooke D. Anderson 2011–12 John Podesta 2014–15 White House Communications Director Ellen Moran 2009 Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod 2009–11 Anita Dunn 2009 David Plouffe 2011–13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2009–13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2013–15 Jennifer Palmieri 2013–15 Shailagh Murray 2015–17 Jen Psaki 2015–17 Senior Advisor to the President Pete Rouse 2009–10 Deputy White House Communications Director Jen Psaki 2009–11 Brian Deese 2015–17 Jennifer Palmieri 2011–14 Senior Advisor to the President and Valerie Jarrett 2009–17 Amy Brundage 2014–16 Assistant to the President for Liz Allen 2016–17 Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs 2009–11 Director,Public Engagement Tina Tchen 2009–11 Jay Carney 2011–13 Jon Carson 2011–13 Josh Earnest 2013–17 Paulette L. Aniskoff 2013–17 Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton 2009–11 Director,Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muñoz 2009–12 Josh Earnest 2011–13 David Agnew 2012–14 Eric Schultz 2014–17 Jerry Abramson 2014–17 Director of Special Projects Stephanie Cutter 2010–11 Director,National Economic Council Lawrence Summers 2009–10 Director, Speechwriting Jon Favreau 2009–13 Gene Sperling 2011–14 Cody Keenan 2013–17 Jeff Zients 2014–17 Director, Digital Strategy Macon Phillips 2009–13 Chair,Council of Economic Advisers Christina Romer 2009–10 Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman 2015–17 Austan Goolsbee 2010–13 Director, Legislative Affairs Phil Schiliro 2009–11 Jason Furman 2013–17 Rob Nabors 2011–13 Chair,Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker 2009–11 Katie Beirne Fallon 2013–16 Chair,Council on Jobs and Competitiveness Jeff Immelt 2011–13 Miguel Rodriguez 2016 Director,Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes 2009–12 Amy Rosenbaum 2016–17 Cecilia Muñoz 2012–17 Director, Political Affairs Patrick Gaspard 2009–11 Director,Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Joshua DuBois 2009–13 David Simas 2011–16 Melissa Rogers 2013–17 Director, Presidential Personnel Nancy Hogan 2009–13 Director,Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle 2009–11 Johnathan D. McBride 2013–14 Director,Office of National AIDS Policy Jeffrey Crowley 2009–11 Valerie E. Green 2014–15 Grant N. Colfax 2011–13 Rodin A. Mehrbani 2016–17 Douglas M. Brooks 2013–17 White House Staff Secretary Lisa Brown 2009–11 Director,Office of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carrión Jr. 2009–10 Rajesh De 2011–12 Racquel S. Russell 2010–14 Douglas Kramer 2012–13 Roy Austin Jr. 2014–17 Joani Walsh 2014–17 Director,Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Carol Browner 2009–11 Director, Management and Administration Bradley J. Kiley 2009–11 White House Counsel Greg Craig 2009–10 Katy A. Kale 2011–15 Bob Bauer 2010–11 Maju Varghese 2015–17 Kathryn Ruemmler 2011–14 Director, Scheduling and Advance Alyssa Mastromonaco 2009–11 Neil Eggleston 2014–17 Danielle Crutchfield 2011–14 White House Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu 2009–13 Chase Cushman 2014–17 Danielle C. Gray 2013–14 Director, White House Information Technology David Recordon 2015–17 Broderick D. Johnson 2014–17 Director,Office of Administration Cameron Moody 2009–11 Personal Aide to the President Reggie Love 2009–11 Beth Jones 2011–15 Brian Mosteller 2011–12 Cathy Solomon 2015–17 Marvin D. Nicholson 2012–17 Director,Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren 2009–17 Director,Oval Office Operations Brian Mosteller 2012–17 Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra 2009–12 Personal Secretary to the President Katie Johnson 2009–11 Todd Park 2012–14 Anita Decker Breckenridge 2011–14 Megan Smith 2014–17 Ferial Govashiri 2014–17 Director,Office of Management and Budget Peter R. Orszag 2009–10 Chief of Staff to the First Lady Jackie Norris 2009 Jack Lew 2010–12 Susan Sher 2009–11 Jeff Zients 2012–13 Tina Tchen 2011–17 Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2013–14 White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers 2009–10 Brian Deese 2014 Julianna Smoot 2010–11 Shaun Donovan 2014–17 Jeremy Bernard 2011–15 Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra 2009–11 Deesha Dyer 2015–17 Steven VanRoekel 2011–14 Chief of Staff to the Vice President Ron Klain 2009–11 Tony Scott 2015–17 Bruce Reed 2011–13 United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk 2009–13 Steve Ricchetti 2013–17 Michael Froman 2013–17 White House Chief Usher Stephen W. Rochon † 2009–11 Director,Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske 2009–14 Angella Reid 2011–17 Michael Botticelli 2014–17 Director,White House Military Office George Mulligan 2009–13 Chair,Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley 2009–14 Emmett Beliveau 2013–15 Michael Boots 2014–15 Dabney Kern 2016–17 Christy Goldfuss 2015–17
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