Patrick Gaspard
| Patrick Gaspard | |
|---|---|
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|
| United States Ambassador to South Africa | |
| Assumed office October 16, 2013 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Donald Gips |
| White House Director of Political Affairs | |
| In office January 20, 2009 – February 1, 2011 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Felts |
| Succeeded by | David Simas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1967 (age 56–57) Kinshasa, Zaire (now Congo-Kinshasa) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
Patrick Gaspard (born 1967) is the current United States Ambassador to South Africa. He is a noted Democratic Party political leader and elections staffer.
Career
Prior to becoming Ambassador to South Africa, Gaspard was most well known for his time at the White House and as the day-to-day leader of the Democratic Party headquarters. He served as the Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee from 2011 to 2013, overseeing the party committee's efforts to re-elect President Obama. Previously, he was the Director of the White House Office of Political Affairs for the Obama administration from January 2009 to 2011,[1][2] Associate Personnel Director of President-elect Obama's transition team,[3] and National Political Director of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.
Gaspard's early career was spent in New York City, including working on the 1988 Jesse Jackson presidential bid and David Dinkins's successful 1989 mayoral campaign.[4] He went on to serve as a Special Assistant in the Office of the Manhattan Borough President and Special Assistant in the Office of Mayor Dinkins, and later, from 1998-1999, Chief of Staff to the New York City Council.[5] In 2003-2004, he worked for Governor Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign as the National Deputy Field Director, and in 2004, was the National Field Director for America Coming Together.[5]
Gaspard spent nine years as the executive vice president for politics and legislation for the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East labor union, the largest local union in America.[6][7] He helped coordinate political activity and government relations on behalf of 300,000 members. In 2006, he served as the acting political director for SEIU International during the national union's successful effort to help Democrats capture majorities in the House and Senate.
He is also a former community organizer around school reform issues.
Ambassador to South Africa
It was leaked in March 2013 that President Obama was planning to nominate Gaspard to the post of United States Ambassador to South Africa.[8] His Senate confirmation hearing was held on July 24, 2013,[9] and he was sworn into the post on August 26, 2013.[10][11]
Gaspard is a close friend of Bill de Blasio, the Mayor of New York City. In September 2013, he brokered a peace between de Blasio and his primary rival Bill Thompson that prevented Thompson from challenging de Blasio in a runoff.[12] Earlier, de Blasio had personally thanked Gaspard in his primary victory speech.[13]
Personal life
Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Haitian parents, Gaspard moved with his parents to the United States when he was three years old.[1] He is married and has two children.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Politico (2011). Gaspard to DNC, Dillon to re-elect. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/27/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://thegrio.com/2013/03/04/president-obamas-new-man-in-south-africa/
- ↑ http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Gaspard_Testimony.pdf
- ↑ https://twitter.com/VP/status/371990824508071937
- ↑ http://www.haiti.org/index.php/section-blog/207-haitian-american-patrick-gaspard-was-sworn-as-us-ambassador-to-south-africa&Itemid=82
- ↑ http://www.cityandstateny.com/ambassador-bridged-divide-between-de-blasio-and-thompson/
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Patrick Gaspard collected news and commentary at The Washington Post
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by
Johnathan Felts
|
White House Director of Political Affairs 2009–2011 |
Succeeded by David Simas |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to South Africa 2013–present |
Incumbent |
