Lisa Monaco

Lisa Monaco is an American attorney and government official who has served as the 39th United States Deputy Attorney General since April 2021 under Attorney General Merrick Garland. She previously served as the Homeland Security Advisor to President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2017, the first woman to hold that position. Monaco has held several senior roles at the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, focusing on national security, counterterrorism, and cyber threats.

Early life and education

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Monaco grew up in the Greater Boston area. She attended Harvard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government in 1990. She remained at Harvard Law School, receiving her Juris Doctor in 1997. During her time between degrees, she worked as a staff assistant for then-Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Legal career

Following law school, Monaco served as a law clerk for Judge Jane R. Roth of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She began her career at the Department of Justice in 1998 as a trial attorney in the Criminal Division. She later served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, prosecuting a range of federal crimes. In 2007, she joined the FBI as a senior counselor to Director Robert Mueller.

Deputy Attorney General

In 2009, Monaco returned to the Department of Justice as the Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General. She was appointed by President Barack Obama as the Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division in 2011, overseeing the division responsible for combating terrorism and espionage. In this role, she helped coordinate the government's response to significant threats and managed high-profile cases involving the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Homeland Security Advisor

Monaco was appointed by President Barack Obama as the Homeland Security Advisor and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism in 2013, succeeding John O. Brennan. In this capacity, she chaired the Homeland Security Council and coordinated the Executive Office of the President's response to domestic crises, including cybersecurity incidents like the Office of Personnel Management data breach and international threats such as the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. She worked closely with agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and the Central Intelligence Agency.

Return to the Justice Department

Following the election of President Joe Biden, Monaco was nominated to serve as the United States Deputy Attorney General in January 2021. After confirmation by the United States Senate, she was sworn into office in April 2021. In this role, she serves as the second-ranking official at the Department of Justice, overseeing its day-to-day operations and prioritizing efforts against domestic violent extremism, cyberattacks like those linked to Russia, and corporate crime enforcement. She has also been involved in overseeing the work of the January 6 Committee and related prosecutions.

Personal life

Monaco is married and has two children. She maintains a low public profile regarding her family life. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has received awards including the Edmund J. Randolph Award, the Department of Justice's highest honor.