Rajesh De

American lawyer and government official
Raj De
General Counsel of the United States National Security Agency
In office
April 2012 – March 2015
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byMatthew G. Olsen
Succeeded byGlenn S. Gerstell
White House Staff Secretary
In office
January 30, 2011 – April 2012
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byLisa Brown
Succeeded byDouglas Kramer
Personal details
Born1971 or 1972 (age 52–53)
Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationHarvard University (BA, JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Rajesh "Raj" De (born circa 1972[1]) is an American lawyer and former U.S. government official who later became the managing partner for the Washington, D.C., office of the law firm Mayer Brown. During the presidency of Barack Obama, he served in three significant government roles—as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Policy, as White House Staff Secretary, and finally as general counsel of the U.S. National Security Agency.

Earlier in his career, he was counsel to the 9/11 Commission and assisted in drafting the 9/11 Commission Report and the legislation implementing recommendations of the Report.

Early life and education

De was born and raised near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Indian American immigrants.[2] He received his bachelor's degree from Harvard College and earned his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1999.[1] His law school room-mate John P. Carlin also served in the Obama administration as chief of staff to FBI Director Robert Mueller, and later as Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division.[3] During law school, De clerked for Judge A. Wallace Tashima on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California.[4]

Career

Immediately after his law school graduation, De began his legal career in public service at the United States Department of Justice as a litigator in the Antitrust Division.[2] De's appointment was under the Attorney General's Honors Program—a program to place promising new attorneys in the Department of Justice.[4]

9/11 Commission

Following the September 11 attacks, he served as counsel to the 9/11 Commission, conducting interviews with dozens of U.S. government and foreign officials, and drafting part of the 9/11 Commission Report. Following the publishing of the report, De went to work as special bipartisan staff to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee, where he assisted in the drafting of legislation implementing the report's recommendations—including the establishment of a Director of National Intelligence and a National Counterterrorism Center. His work was ultimately incorporated into the 2004 Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act.[4] In 2015, De described the publication of the 9/11 Commission Report as his proudest legal accomplishment.[3]

He left government briefly in 2006 to work as an associate at the law firm Mayer Brown, to which he later returned.[2] During this time, he also served as pro bono counsel to the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Proliferation and Terrorism.[5]

Office of Legal Policy

Near the beginning of the presidency of Barack Obama, De returned to the U.S. Department of Justice, where he was appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Policy under Acting Assistant Attorney General Kevin R. Jones. Jones was a career DOJ employee who became Acting AAG with the departure of President Bush's appointee in that role; President Obama's nominee for Assistant Attorney General, Christopher H. Schroeder, was not confirmed until April 2010, leaving De as the senior-most political appointee at the Office of Legal Policy until that confirmation.[6] In this role, he worked closely with Attorney General Eric Holder as well as leadership across all DOJ components.[4]

White House Staff Secretary

In 2010, De moved to the White House when he was appointed Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Staff Secretary under Lisa Brown. When Brown departed the White House in early 2011, De was promoted to White House Staff Secretary, serving in that capacity until April 2012. The White House Staff Secretary is responsible for managing paper flow to the President and circulating documents among senior staff and cabinet agencies.[4] De later described the role as "the ultimate grind job," due to the volume of work and the necessity of absolute perfection when dealing with a president's papers,[3] and said that the job gave him insight and exposed him to all aspects of the federal government and their interaction with the President.[2]

Following Trump administration Staff Secretary Rob Porter being revealed in 2018 to have been working without a full security clearance, De was outspoken in criticizing Porter and the Trump White House for the breach.[5]

National Security Agency

From April 2012 through March 2015, he was general counsel for the U.S. National Security Agency, where he oversaw a department of roughly 100 lawyers and staff. De represented the agency and agency leaders in inter-agency conversations, at hearings before Congress, at the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, and to foreign governments.[4] His time at NSA was marked by controversy over disclosures of NSA surveillance practices.[7][8]

Mayer Brown

After leaving the NSA, he rejoined the law firm Mayer Brown. In 2019 he was appointed managing partner at Mayer Brown's Washington, D.C., office,[8] leading the firm's global Cybersecurity & Data Privacy practice and National Security practice, and servimg as a member of the firm's Congressional Investigations & Crisis Management team.[4]

In addition to his work for the law firm, De became a member of the Homeland Security Group at the Aspen Institute, a member of the board of directors of the Southern Center for Human Rights, a non-resident fellow at the Reiss Center on Law and Security at New York University School of Law,[9][10][11] and a member of the Central Intelligence Agency general counsel's external advisory board.[4]

Biden transition

In November 2020, De was named a volunteer member of the Joe Biden presidential transition Agency Review Team to support transition efforts related to the U.S. Department of Justice.[12]

Awards and recognition

De was awarded the U.S. Attorney General's John Marshall Award, the Department of Justice's highest award for attorneys. He was also awarded Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service, the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the National Security Agency Director's Distinguished Service Medal, and the National Security Agency Intelligence Under Law Award.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Bender, Bryan (January 9, 2015). "From Harvard Law School friends to legal architects of the war on terrorism". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 3, 2015. The trio, now in their early 40s, ...
  2. ^ a b c d Chung, Renwei (June 28, 2019). "Harvard Law School Alum And Managing Partner Raj De On The D.C. Market, Public Service, And Diversity In The Legal Profession". Above the Law. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Hong, Nicole (June 8, 2015). "Leading Questions: A Chat with Rajesh De, Former NSA General Counsel". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Rajesh De - Partner". Mayer Brown. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Haniffa, Aziz (February 15, 2018). "Rob Porter incident puts spotlight on Obama-era predecessor Rajesh De". India Abroad. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation Christopher H. Schroeder, of North Carolina, to be an Assistant Attorney General)". United States Senate. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  7. ^ Sledge, Matt (February 28, 2013). "Rajesh De, NSA General Counsel, Defends Warrantless Wiretapping Program". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  8. ^ a b Sankin, Aaron (April 3, 2015). "The NSA's former top lawyer talks privacy, security, and Snowden's 'betrayal'". The Daily Dot. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  9. ^ "Raj De". Aspen Institute. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  10. ^ "Rajesh De". Southern Center for Human Rights. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  11. ^ "Rajesh De - Non-Resident Senior Fellow". Reiss Center on Law and Security. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  12. ^ "Agency Review Teams". Biden-Haris Transition. Retrieved November 10, 2020.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Lisa Brown
 White House Staff Secretary
2011–2012 		Succeeded by
Douglas Kramer
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Office Name Term Office Name Term
Secretary of State John Kerry 2013–2017 Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew 2013–2017
Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter 2015–2017 Attorney General Loretta Lynch 2015–2017
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell 2013–2017 Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack 2009–2017
Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker 2013–2017 Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez 2013–2017
Secretary of Health and
  Human Services		 Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2014–2017 Secretary of Education
Secretary of Transportation		 John King Jr.
Anthony Foxx		 2016–2017
2013–2017
Secretary of Housing and Urban
  Development		 Julian Castro 2014–2017 Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald 2014–2017
Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz 2013–2017 Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson 2013–2017
Vice President Joe Biden 2009–2017 White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough 2013–2017
Director of the Office of Management and
  Budget		 Shaun Donovan 2014–2017 Administrator of the Environmental
  Protection Agency		 Gina McCarthy 2013–2017
Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power 2013–2017 Chair of the Council of Economic
  Advisers		 Jason Furman 2013–2017
Trade Representative Michael Froman 2013–2017 Administrator of the Small Business Administration Maria Contreras-Sweet 2014–2017
Below solid line: Granted Cabinet rank although not automatically part of the Cabinet. See also: Confirmations of Barack Obama's Cabinet
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Office Name Term Office Name Term
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel 2009–10 National Security Advisor James L. Jones 2009–10
Pete Rouse 2010–11 Thomas E. Donilon 2010–13
William M. Daley 2011–12 Susan Rice 2013–17
Jack Lew 2012–13 Deputy National Security Advisor Thomas E. Donilon 2009–10
Denis McDonough 2013–17 Denis McDonough 2010–13
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Mona Sutphen 2009–11 Antony Blinken 2013–14
Nancy-Ann DeParle 2011–13 Avril Haines 2015–17
Rob Nabors 2013–15 Dep. National Security Advisor, Homeland Security John O. Brennan 2009–13
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Jim Messina 2009–11 Lisa Monaco 2013–17
Alyssa Mastromonaco 2011–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Iraq and Afghanistan Douglas Lute† 2009–13
Anita Decker Breckenridge 2014–17 Dep. National Security Advisor, Strategic Comm. Ben Rhodes 2009–17
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning Mark B. Childress 2012–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Chief of Staff Mark Lippert 2009
Kristie Canegallo 2014–17 Denis McDonough 2009–10
Counselor to the President Pete Rouse 2011–13 Brooke D. Anderson 2011–12
John Podesta 2014–15 White House Communications Director Ellen Moran 2009
Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod 2009–11 Anita Dunn 2009
David Plouffe 2011–13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2009–13
Daniel Pfeiffer 2013–15 Jennifer Palmieri 2013–15
Shailagh Murray 2015–17 Jen Psaki 2015–17
Senior Advisor to the President Pete Rouse 2009–10 Deputy White House Communications Director Jen Psaki 2009–11
Brian Deese 2015–17 Jennifer Palmieri 2011–14
Senior Advisor to the President and Valerie Jarrett 2009–17 Amy Brundage 2014–16
Assistant to the President for Liz Allen 2016–17
Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs 2009–11
Director, Public Engagement Tina Tchen 2009–11 Jay Carney 2011–13
Jon Carson 2011–13 Josh Earnest 2013–17
Paulette L. Aniskoff 2013–17 Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton 2009–11
Director, Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muñoz 2009–12 Josh Earnest 2011–13
David Agnew 2012–14 Eric Schultz 2014–17
Jerry Abramson 2014–17 Director of Special Projects Stephanie Cutter 2010–11
Director, National Economic Council Lawrence Summers 2009–10 Director, Speechwriting Jon Favreau 2009–13
Gene Sperling 2011–14 Cody Keenan 2013–17
Jeff Zients 2014–17 Director, Digital Strategy Macon Phillips 2009–13
Chair, Council of Economic Advisers Christina Romer 2009–10 Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman 2015–17
Austan Goolsbee 2010–13 Director, Legislative Affairs Phil Schiliro 2009–11
Jason Furman 2013–17 Rob Nabors 2011–13
Chair, Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker 2009–11 Katie Beirne Fallon 2013–16
Chair, Council on Jobs and Competitiveness Jeff Immelt 2011–13 Miguel Rodriguez 2016
Director, Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes 2009–12 Amy Rosenbaum 2016–17
Cecilia Muñoz 2012–17 Director, Political Affairs Patrick Gaspard 2009–11
Director, Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Joshua DuBois 2009–13 David Simas 2011–16
Melissa Rogers 2013–17 Director, Presidential Personnel Nancy Hogan 2009–13
Director, Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle 2009–11 Johnathan D. McBride 2013–14
Director, Office of National AIDS Policy Jeffrey Crowley 2009–11 Valerie E. Green 2014–15
Grant N. Colfax 2011–13 Rodin A. Mehrbani 2016–17
Douglas M. Brooks 2013–17 White House Staff Secretary Lisa Brown 2009–11
Director, Office of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carrión Jr. 2009–10 Rajesh De 2011–12
Racquel S. Russell 2010–14 Douglas Kramer 2012–13
Roy Austin Jr. 2014–17 Joani Walsh 2014–17
Director, Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Carol Browner 2009–11 Director, Management and Administration Bradley J. Kiley 2009–11
White House Counsel Greg Craig 2009–10 Katy A. Kale 2011–15
Bob Bauer 2010–11 Maju Varghese 2015–17
Kathryn Ruemmler 2011–14 Director, Scheduling and Advance Alyssa Mastromonaco 2009–11
Neil Eggleston 2014–17 Danielle Crutchfield 2011–14
White House Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu 2009–13 Chase Cushman 2014–17
Danielle C. Gray 2013–14 Director, White House Information Technology David Recordon 2015–17
Broderick D. Johnson 2014–17 Director, Office of Administration Cameron Moody 2009–11
Personal Aide to the President Reggie Love 2009–11 Beth Jones 2011–15
Brian Mosteller 2011–12 Cathy Solomon 2015–17
Marvin D. Nicholson 2012–17 Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren 2009–17
Director, Oval Office Operations Brian Mosteller 2012–17 Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra 2009–12
Personal Secretary to the President Katie Johnson 2009–11 Todd Park 2012–14
Anita Decker Breckenridge 2011–14 Megan Smith 2014–17
Ferial Govashiri 2014–17 Director, Office of Management and Budget Peter R. Orszag 2009–10
Chief of Staff to the First Lady Jackie Norris 2009 Jack Lew 2010–12
Susan Sher 2009–11 Jeff Zients 2012–13
Tina Tchen 2011–17 Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2013–14
White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers 2009–10 Brian Deese 2014
Julianna Smoot 2010–11 Shaun Donovan 2014–17
Jeremy Bernard 2011–15 Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra 2009–11
Deesha Dyer 2015–17 Steven VanRoekel 2011–14
Chief of Staff to the Vice President Ron Klain 2009–11 Tony Scott 2015–17
Bruce Reed 2011–13 United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk 2009–13
Steve Ricchetti 2013–17 Michael Froman 2013–17
White House Chief Usher Stephen W. Rochon† 2009–11 Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske 2009–14
Angella Reid 2011–17 Michael Botticelli 2014–17
Director, White House Military Office George Mulligan 2009–13 Chair, Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley 2009–14
Emmett Beliveau 2013–15 Michael Boots 2014–15
Dabney Kern 2016–17 Christy Goldfuss 2015–17
† Remained from previous administration.
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Position Appointee
Chief of Staff to the Vice President Steve Ricchetti
Counsel to the Vice President Cynthia Hogan
Counselor to the Vice President Mike Donilon
Assistant to the Vice President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison Evan Ryan
Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Communications Shailagh Murray
Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President Shailagh Murray
Deputy National Security Adviser to the Vice President Brian P. McKeon
Residence Manager and Social Secretary for the Vice President and Second Lady Carlos Elizondo
National Security Adviser to the Vice President Colin Kahl
Position Appointee
Chief of Staff to the Second Lady Catherine M. Russell
Director of Administration for the Office of the Vice President Moises Vela
Domestic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Terrell McSweeny
Chief Economist and Economic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Jared Bernstein
Press Secretary to the Vice President Elizabeth Alexander
Deputy Press Secretary to the Vice President Annie Tomasini
Director of Legislative Affairs Sudafi Henry
Director of Communications for the Second Lady Courtney O’Donnell
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