Peter A. Selfridge

Peter Selfridge
Chief of Protocol of the United States
Incumbent
Assumed office May 13, 2014
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Natalie Jones (Acting)
Personal details
Born	1971 (age 44–45)[1]
Alma mater	University of Iowa Johns Hopkins University

Peter A. Selfridge (born 1971)^[1] is the current United States Chief of Protocol, a job that carries the rank of Ambassador and Assistant Secretary of State. In this role he serves as the link between the White House and foreign ambassadors and visiting dignitaries. In addition his office manages Blair House, the official guesthouse of the President of the United States.

Early life and education

Raised in Minnesota, the 1989 Minnetonka High School grad went on to receive a B.A. from the University of Iowa and a Master of Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University.^[2] He is of German, Irish, and Scottish heritage.^[3]

Career

From 1993 to 1995, he served as a Legislative Correspondent and Staff Assistant in the office of Senator Tom Harkin.

Selfridge first served in the White House from 1995 to 1997, as Director of Scheduling Correspondence and Deputy Director in the Office of Scheduling and Advance, in President Bill Clinton's scheduling office.

Leaving the Clinton administration in 1997, he served as a Policy Analyst for the City of New York, Department of Citywide Administrative Services before leaving to become a Media Logistics Coordinator for the Gore-Lieberman campaign in 2000. Following the 2000 Presidential Election, he became a Senior Associate and Associate at Citigate Communications/Citigate Sard Verbinnen from 2001 to 2003. He left that position to serve as Associate Director in the Office of Scheduling and Advance for John Kerry for President. Beginning in 2005 he worked as the City Director for Los Angeles at the Clinton Climate Initiative and as a Public Affairs Consultant until 2007.^[4]

Selfridge served as Deputy Director of Advance for both the Presidential Transition Office and Obama for America from 2008 to early 2009. Following the Obama team into the White House, he served as Director of Advance for the Vice President until 2011, when he became a Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Advance & Operations at the White House, a position he held until 2011 when he became Director—a position he held until his nomination to the Office of Chief of Protocol in the State Department.^[4]

He was nominated by President Obama to be Chief of Protocol on December 12, 2013.^[4] With support from both of Minnesota's Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, the Senate confirmed Selfridge's nomination by voice vote May 5, 2014. He succeeded Natalie Jones who was acting Chief of Protocol after Capricia Marshall left the post on August 1, 2013.

He was sworn in as Chief of Protocol on May 13, 2014.^[5]

Personal life

In 2007, he married Parita Shah, the daughter of Gujarathi immigrants.^[6]

References

1. "Peter A. Selfridge". U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
2. "U.S. Senate confirms Selfridge as Obama's chief of protocol". Star Tribune. May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
3. Washington Diplomat: "Peter Selfridge, New Chief of Protocol, makes his debut" July 2014
4. Office of the Press Secretary (December 12, 2013). "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts". Press Release. The White House. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
5. "Chief of Protocol: Peter A. Selfridge". United States Department of State.
6. USCDornsife Bulletin: "A Dream Realized - USC Dornsife alumna Parita Shah credits her immigrant family’s spirit of giving with her drive to make a difference in the United States government" By Laurie Moore June 11, 2012