After putting the final touches on President Obama’s FY 2013 budget at the end of the month, OMB Director Jack Lew will take his significant budgetary, management, and diplomatic experiences to the West Wing as the new White House Chief of Staff, replacing Bill Daley.  Lew is a thoughtful leader on the International Affairs Budget, and a true champion of American engagement in the world.

Prior to his role as Director of OMB, Lew served as Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, where he demonstrated his dedication to U.S. national security through effective use of the civilian tools of U.S. foreign policy.  He was instrumental as co-chair of the first ever Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR), which laid out a new American foreign policy strategy and the Administration’s modernization plan for the State Department and USAID.  The QDDR made clear the importance of development and diplomacy to American economic strength.  Speaking at the public launch of the QDDR dialogue about the three D’s of foreign policy, Lew emphasized, “It’s critically important that diplomacy and development be right up there with defense.”

Lew’s transition will come after President Obama’s State of the Union Address and the unveiling of the FY13 budget proposal. With the challenges we face around the world, it is more important than ever that American leadership remains strong. USGLC Executive Director Liz Schrayer said of Lew’s new role, “He is a strong voice with an understanding of America’s role in the world.  At a time of great challenge, both here and overseas, Jack understands the critical role of development and diplomacy in advancing our national interests.  Jack will bring the same thoughtful and strategic leadership that he brought to OMB and the State Department on these issues to his new role, and we look forward to working with him.”