Office of the Chief of Protocol

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Office of the Chief of Protocol

Capricia Penavic Marshall was sworn in as Chief of Protocol of the United States, with the rank of Ambassador, on August 3, 2009.

As the Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Marshall leads the Office of Protocol in its mission to advance the foreign policy of the Obama Administration by creating and fostering an environment for successful diplomacy. As the first hand that welcomes Kings, Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers to the United States, Ambassador Marshall serves on the front lines of diplomatic engagement building bridges and fostering understanding between people and governments.

With an acute attention to detail, Ambassador Marshall oversees the work of the six divisions of Protocol – Visits, Ceremonials, Diplomatic Affairs, Diplomatic Partnerships, Blair House and Management – in setting the stage for diplomacy and ensuring that international protocol is executed to the highest standard. She serves as the primary liaison for visiting dignitaries meeting with the President, Vice President, Secretary of State and other Administration officials, and manages and implements protocol arrangements for Presidential travel abroad. Since assuming her post, Ambassador Marshall has executed several State Visits, multiple major international conferences, and hundreds of bilateral meetings between foreign leaders and President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary Clinton, Mrs. Obama and other high-ranking officials both in the United States and abroad.

Ambassador Marshall uses her deep knowledge and understanding of the nexus of culture and foreign policy to foster international goodwill and cultivate relationships. Utilizing traditional tools of diplomacy, and new and innovative methods of communication and conversation, Ambassador Marshall launched a new division in the Protocol office, Diplomatic Partnerships. Through programming under this division she has introduced the foreign Diplomatic Corps to business, government and community leaders across America creating positive and substantive partnerships and relationships.

Ambassador Marshall has worked in a variety of capacities for President and Secretary Clinton before joining her team at the State Department. From 1993 to 1997, Ambassador Marshall served as Special Assistant to the First Lady in the White House. She traveled extensively with the First Lady coordinating her agenda, meetings and public appearances. In 1997, Ambassador Marshall was appointed Deputy Assistant to the President and Social Secretary to the White House. At age 32, she was the youngest Social Secretary in modern times and was responsible for the planning and execution of all White House international and domestic events.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Ambassador Marshall is a first-generation American born to a father of Croatian descent and a mother of Mexican heritage. She graduated from Purdue University in 1986, and received a law degree in 1990 from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where she served as Student Bar Association President.

Ambassador Marshall is married and they have one son.

While the “Division of Protocol” of the United States was founded in 1928 and was not officially named “the Office of the Chief of Protocol” until 1955, the existence of protocol in international diplomacy is timeless and its practice an enduring guidance in the act of statesmanship.

From the Continental Congress’ creation of the “Committee on Arrangements for the Reception of French Minister Gerard de Rayneval”, the first foreign chief of mission in the United States in 1778, to arranging logistics for numerous visiting Chiefs of State and Heads of Government from around the world at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City and the 2009 Pittsburgh Summit, protocol officers have always welcomed foreign leaders with respect and helped set the stage for foreign relations.

Today, the Office of the Chief of Protocol creates the framework for diplomacy through the work of the divisions and units displayed below. We invite you to learn more by exploring this webpage and please sign up on the left to be added to our email list.

Visits From arrival to departure, the Visits Division plans, arranges and executes detailed programs for visiting Chiefs of State and Heads of Government.
Ceremonials Working with style, elegance and an acute attention to detail, the Ceremonials Division plans, executes and supports a wide range of ceremonial and official functions hosted by the President, Vice President, Secretary of State, and other high-ranking United States Government officials.
Blair House The Office of the Chief of Protocol maintains and manages one of our nation's greatest historical treasures Blair House, the official guesthouse of the President.
Diplomatic Affairs The Diplomatic Affairs division oversees the accreditation of foreign Ambassadors and assists the Chief of Protocol in her capacity as the President's personal representative and liaison to foreign Ambassadors in Washington.
Diplomatic Partnerships Through the exchange of ideas, cultures, and traditions, Diplomatic Partnerships builds upon the Administration's efforts to foster international goodwill and provide the Diplomatic Community with greater understanding of the people, customs, and institutions of the United States.
Management The Management Division is under the direction and supervision of the Executive Director of the Office of the Chief of Protocol, who also serves as the Assistant Chief of Protocol for Management. The Management Division administers the human resources, financial, information management systems, security, and general services sections, and provides guidance and support to all divisions of the Office of the Chief of Protocol.
Gifts The Office of the Chief of Protocol works closely with the staffs of the President, the First Lady, the Vice President and the Secretary of State, to select gifts for foreign dignitaries.