Jake Sullivan

Jake Sullivan
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Name	Jake Sullivan
Caption	Official portrait, 2021
Office	National Security Advisor
President	Joe Biden
Deputy	Jonathan Finer
Term start	January 20, 2021
Predecessor	Robert C. O'Brien
Office2	Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications
President2	Barack Obama
Term start2	2013
Term end2	2014
Predecessor2	Ben Rhodes
Successor2	Ned Price
Office3	Director of Policy Planning
President3	Barack Obama
Term start3	2011
Term end3	2013
Predecessor3	Anne-Marie Slaughter
Successor3	David McKean
Birth date	28 November 1976
Birth place	Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Education	Yale University (BA), University of Oxford (MPhil), Yale Law School (JD)

Jake Sullivan is an American attorney and government official serving as the National Security Advisor to President Joe Biden since 2021. A key foreign policy strategist for the Democratic Party, he previously served as Director of Policy Planning and Deputy National Security Advisor under President Barack Obama. Sullivan has been a central figure in shaping administration policy toward China, the war in Ukraine, and the Israel–Hamas war.

Early life and education

Jacob Jeremiah Sullivan was born in Burlington, Vermont, and grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended Yale University, graduating magna cum laude in 1998 with a degree in Political Science and International Relations. As a Rhodes Scholar, he earned a Master of Philosophy in International Relations from Magdalen College at the University of Oxford. Sullivan then returned to the United States to attend Yale Law School, where he was an articles editor for the Yale Law Journal and graduated in 2003.

Career before the Biden administration

After law school, Sullivan clerked for Judge Guido Calabresi of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and later for Justice Stephen Breyer of the Supreme Court of the United States. He worked as an associate at the law firm Faegre & Benson before entering government service. Sullivan served as a senior advisor to Hillary Clinton during her 2008 presidential campaign and subsequently joined the Obama administration as Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Clinton at the United States Department of State. He later served as Director of Policy Planning and then as Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, playing a significant role in the negotiations leading to the Iran nuclear deal and secret talks with Cuba.

National Security Advisor (2021–present)

Appointed by President Joe Biden, Sullivan assumed the role of National Security Advisor on January 20, 2021. He leads the National Security Council and has been instrumental in coordinating the U.S. response to major global challenges. Sullivan managed the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and has been a chief architect of the international coalition supporting Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. He has overseen efforts to manage strategic competition with the People's Republic of China, including engagements following the 2023 Chinese balloon incident and high-level meetings in Malta and Vienna. Sullivan also played a key role in brokering the 2023 Israel–Hamas war hostage deal and shaping policy during the Israel–Hamas war.

Policy positions and views

Sullivan is identified with the foreign policy school of progressive realism, advocating for a focus on the middle class in foreign policy and emphasizing alliances and diplomacy alongside military strength. He has articulated a vision of "foreign policy for the middle class" and is a proponent of a foreign policy that strengthens domestic economic and technological competitiveness, particularly vis-à-vis China. Sullivan has been a vocal advocate for sustained military and economic support for Ukraine and has emphasized the need for "managed competition" with Beijing. He has also supported diplomatic efforts to de-escalate conflicts in the Middle East and has been involved in crafting the AUKUS security pact and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.

Personal life

Sullivan is married to Maggie Goodlander, a lawyer who served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice and later as a counsel in the Biden administration. The couple has one child. An avid outdoorsman, Sullivan enjoys hiking and is a fan of Minnesota Vikings football. He maintains a relatively low public profile compared to some of his predecessors, focusing on behind-the-scenes policy coordination and strategic planning within the White House.

Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:National Security Advisors to the President of the United States Category:Yale University alumni Category:Rhodes Scholars