Patrick Gaspard
| Patrick Gaspard | |
|---|---|
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|
| United States Ambassador to South Africa | |
|
In office July 24, 2013 – December 16, 2016 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Donald Gips |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| 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 Kinshasa, Zaire (now Congo-Kinshasa) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
Patrick Gaspard (born 1967) is the vice president of the Open Society Foundations. Ambassador Gaspard oversees the Open Society Foundations’ advocacy work in Washington and Brussels, as well as provides strategic direction and oversight to the organization’s programmatic agenda.
He previously served as United States Ambassador to South Africa. He is a noted Democratic Party political leader and campaign strategist.
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. Gaspard graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and attended Columbia University from 1994 to 1997.
He is married and has two children.
As the U.S. ambassador to South Africa from 2013 to 2016, Gaspard worked to strengthen civil society and worked in partnership with the South African government to develop the country’s healthcare infrastructure and to support innovations in local governance. He also worked to connect South African entrepreneurs to U.S. markets; develop clean, renewable, and efficient energy technologies; and to end wildlife trafficking.
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, Associate Personnel Director of President-elect Obama's transition team, 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. 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. 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.
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