Twelve Obama Administration Era Officials Who Are Biden Administration Officials- And They All Have Connectivity To Cuba Policy

Instructive to note officials in the Biden Administration (January 2021- ) who served in the Obama Administration (January 2009 to January 2017).  Some were involved with developing and/or implementing policy decisions relating to the Republic of Cuba; and some had roles in the negotiations which led to policy announcements on 17 December 2014 and then additional decisions to 20 January 2017. 

The Honorable Joseph Biden is President of the United States (January 2021- ).  Vice President of the United States (January 2009 to January 2017).  United States Senate (January 1973 to January 2009).  Chairman, United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (2001; 2001 to 2003; 2007 to 2009).

The Honorable John Kerry is Special Presidency Envoy for Climate at the United States Department of State (2021- ).  United States Secretary of State (February 2013 to January 2017).  Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (January 2009 to February 2013).   

The Honorable Antony Blinken is United States Secretary of State (2021- ).  Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor (January 2013 to January 2015).  Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor to the Vice President (January 2009 to January 2013).   

The Honorable Jake Sullivan is Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (2021- ).  Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor to the Vice President of the United States (February 2013 to August 2014).  Director of Policy Planning at the United States Department of State February 2011 to February 2013). 

The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas is United States Secretary of Homeland Security (February 2021- ).  United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (December 2013 to October 2016).

Mr. Juan Gonzalez is Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere at The White House (2021- ).  Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs (January 2016 to January 2017).  Special Advisor to Vice President Joe Biden (August 2013 to October 2015).  Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council (July 2011 to August 2013).  Chief of Staff, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the United States Department of State (November 2009 to July 2011).  Foreign Assistance Officer in the Office of Policy and Planning at the United States Department of State (June 2007 to November 2009).  Principal Staff Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs (January 2006 to June 2007). 

The Honorable Roberta Jacobson is Special Assistant to the President and Coordinator for the Southwest Border (2021- ).  United States Ambassador to Mexico (June 2016 to May 2018).  Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs (July 2011 to May 2016).  Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs (July 2011 to March 2012). 

Mr. Roberto Zuniga is Special Envoy to the Northern Triangle at the United States Department of State (2021- ).  Consul General, Sao Paulo, Brazil (July 2015 to September 2018).  Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council (June 2012-May 2015).  Political Counselor, United States Embassy in Brasilia (October 2010 to June 2012).  Deputy Director, Office of Cuban Affairs, United States Department of State (July 2008 to October 2010).  Political Counselor, United States Mission to the Organization of American States (July 2007 to July 2008).  Deputy Political Counselor, United States Embassy in Madrid (August 2004 to July 2007).  Political Officer, United States Interests Section in Cuba (July 2002 to July 2004). 

Ms. Emily Mendrala is a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (2021- ).  Executive Director of the Center for Democracy in the Americas (May 2017 to January 2021). Director for Legislative Affairs in the National Security Council (January 2016 to January 2017).  Special Advisor to the Coordinator for Cuban Affairs at the United States Department of State (August 2015 to June 2016).  Regional Affairs Officer, Central America, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the United States Department of State (July 2013 to August 2015).  Staff Member, United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (August 2009 to June 2013).

Mr. Daniel Erickson is Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs (2021- ). Special Advisor to the Vice President (October 2015 to March 2017).  Senior Advisor for Congressional and Inter-Governmental Affairs, United States Department of State (June 2014 to October 2015).  Senior Advisor for Western Hemisphere Affairs, United States Department of State (June 2010 to May 2014). 

Mr. Steve Ricchetti is Counselor to the President (January 2021- ).  Chief of Staff to the Vice President (December 2013 to January 2017).  

Mr. Michael Donilon is Senior Advisor to the President (January 2021- ).  Counselor to the Vice President (2009 to 2013).

And… 

The Honorable Robert Menendez (D- New Jersey) is Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (January 2021- ).  He was previously chairman from February 2013 to January 2015.  Senator Menendez is of Cuban descent and all issues relating to the Republic of Cuba are personal- particularly the connectivity between a convicted murderer of a New Jersey State Police officer who escaped in 1979 from a correctional facility in New Jersey and resides in the Republic of Cuba.