President Joe Biden has put forth the nomination of Kurt Campbell, widely recognized as the architect of the administration's Asia strategy, for the position of Deputy Secretary of State, the second-highest-ranking role within the State Department.
The White House officially announced this decision through a press release published on Wednesday. Kurt Campbell, aged 66, currently serves as the Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs on the National Security Council. In Washington, he is often referred to as the "Asia czar" due to his significant involvement in shaping US policies towards the Asian region.
Campbell's influence extends back to previous administrations, and he played a pivotal role in formulating strategies such as former President Barack Obama's "pivot to Asia" during his tenure as the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2009 to 2013. He has a rich history of public service, including a position as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs during the Bill Clinton administration, among other roles. Outside of government, he is well-known for his work in think tanks, having served as the founding CEO of the Centre for a New American Security and as the director of the Aspen Strategy Group.
Kurt Campbell is poised to take over the role from his predecessor, Wendy Sherman, who retired from the position of Deputy Secretary of State in July. Victoria Nuland has been serving in an acting capacity since then.
It's worth noting that Campbell's nomination for Deputy Secretary of State will require confirmation by the US Senate.
(With Agency Inputs)
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