Linda Thomas-Greenfield, President Joe Biden’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has assembled a team of foreign-policy veterans with extensive experience in U.N. affairs, in a departure from the Trump administration, which staffed the U.S. Mission largely with political appointees who had limited experience in global diplomacy.
The United Nations’ acting chargé d’affaires, Richard M. Mills, will continue to serve as Thomas-Greenfield’s No. 2, at least during the new ambassador’s transition. Jeffrey DeLaurentis, the former top U.S. diplomat in Cuba, has been appointed acting U.S. ambassador for special political affairs, a post he previously held during the Obama administration. He is likely to help Thomas-Greenfield in the transition to her new position but will only be there temporarily. Jennifer Davis will serve as Thomas-Greenfield’s chief of staff. And Olivia Dalton, who led communications for the Biden-Harris transition’s confirmations team, will serve as chief spokesperson and director of communications for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
