CEO of the Obama Foundation
David Matos Simas [1] [2] (born January 5, 1970)[2] [1] is an American lawyer, former government official, and a former politician. He was the President of the Obama Foundation from 2021 to 2023,[3] having previously served as its CEO from 2016 to 2021[4] [5] and served in Barack Obama's administration as the White House Director of Political Affairs from 2014 to 2016.[6] [7]
Early life and education [ edit ]
Simas was born and raised in Taunton, Massachusetts , the son of Portuguese American immigrant parents, Antonio and Deolinda Simas.[2] Simas lost two of her fingers in a faulty machine at the silver factory where she worked when Simas was a child. The Portuguese immigrant lawyer who worked on the case inspired Simas to become a lawyer.[5] He attended Coyle and Cassidy High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stonehill College .[2] He later earned a Juris Doctor from the Boston College Law School in 1995.[6]
Simas began his political career working as an intern in Senator Edward M. Kennedy 's office in 1989.[8] He was later elected to the Taunton School Board in 1993 and the Taunton City Council in 1997 and 1999.[8] [9] He later served as president of the council and worked as an advisor to the mayor of Taunton.[9]
After leaving the city council he served as an assistant register of deeds for the Northern district office of the Bristol County Registry of Deeds.[10] He was later elected as the new Register of Deeds of the Northern district of Bristol County in 2004.[11] He won reelection in 2006 but later resigned to accept a position in Governor Deval Patrick's administration.[11]
He formerly served as deputy general counsel to the Massachusetts House of Representatives Post Audit and Oversight Bureau and practiced law with the law firm of Gay & Gay Associates, PC.[9] [1]
He worked as deputy chief of staff to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick from 2007 until 2009. In 2009, he joined the Obama White House as a deputy assistant to the president, working under Senior Advisor David Axelrod .
He worked as director of opinion research for President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign and then served as a liaison between the president and Democratic officials for two and a half years.[12]
Simas was appointed CEO of the Obama Foundation in December 2016.[4]
Personal life [ edit ]
Simas married his high school sweetheart, Shauna. They have two daughters and live in Hyde Park in Chicago.[2] [5]
References [ edit ]
^ a b c Morton, Paradise, Kenneth G., Papalinka (December 2007). The Massachusetts Political Almanac 2007 . Center For Leadership Studies. ISBN 9780926766341 . {{cite book }}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )
^ a b c d e Perl, Peter (Summer 2014). "Meet the unflappable, unrelentingly positive David Simas" . BC Law School Magazine . Boston College Law School . Retrieved August 16, 2019 .
^ https://www.chicagobusiness.com/nonprofits-philanthropy/obama-foundation-president-david-simas-leaving
^ a b Eilperin, Juliet (December 19, 2016). "White House political director David Simas joins Obama Foundation as CEO" . The Washington Post . Retrieved August 16, 2019 .
^ a b c Bertagnoli, Lisa (May 3, 2018). "Meet the CEO of the Obama Foundation" . Crain's Chicago Business . Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved August 16, 2019 .
^ a b Shear, Michael D. (March 1, 2014). "Obama's new political chief tries to reassure Democrats" . The New York Times . Retrieved August 16, 2019 .
^ Allen, Jonathan; Parnes, Amie (2017). " "I'm sorry" " . Shattered: inside Hillary Clinton's doomed campaign . New York: Crown. ISBN 9780553447095 .
^ a b American Journal, Portuguese (January 25, 2013). "Appointed: David Simas named Assistant to President Barack Obama โ Washington, DC". Portuguese American Journal .
^ a b c Lowe, James F. (November 23, 2006). "Patrick picks 2 for team - Mayor, prof tapped". Daily Hampshire Gazette . Northampton, Massachusetts .
^ BRISTOL COUNTY REGISTRY OF DEEDS NORTHERN DISTRICT Website (archived October 1, 2003)
^ a b David M. Simas (D)
^ Dovere, Edward-Isaac (January 24, 2014). "W.H. to launch new political office" . Politico . Retrieved August 7, 2021 .
External links [ edit ]
Office Name Term Office Name Term White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel 2009โ10 National Security Advisor James L. Jones 2009โ10 Pete Rouse 2010โ11 Thomas E. Donilon 2010โ13 William M. Daley 2011โ12 Susan Rice 2013โ17 Jack Lew 2012โ13 Deputy National Security Advisor Thomas E. Donilon 2009โ10 Denis McDonough 2013โ17 Denis McDonough 2010โ13 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Mona Sutphen 2009โ11 Antony Blinken 2013โ14 Nancy-Ann DeParle 2011โ13 Avril Haines 2015โ17 Rob Nabors 2013โ15 Dep. National Security Advisor, Homeland Security John O. Brennan 2009โ13 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Jim Messina 2009โ11 Lisa Monaco 2013โ17 Alyssa Mastromonaco 2011โ14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Iraq and Afghanistan Douglas Lute โ 2009โ13 Anita Decker Breckenridge 2014โ17 Dep. National Security Advisor, Strategic Comm. Ben Rhodes 2009โ17 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning Mark B. Childress 2012โ14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Chief of Staff Mark Lippert 2009 Kristie Canegallo 2014โ17 Denis McDonough 2009โ10 Counselor to the President Pete Rouse 2011โ13 Brooke D. Anderson 2011โ12 John Podesta 2014โ15 White House Communications Director Ellen Moran 2009 Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod 2009โ11 Anita Dunn 2009 David Plouffe 2011โ13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2009โ13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2013โ15 Jennifer Palmieri 2013โ15 Shailagh Murray 2015โ17 Jen Psaki 2015โ17 Senior Advisor to the President Pete Rouse 2009โ10 Deputy White House Communications Director Jen Psaki 2009โ11 Brian Deese 2015โ17 Jennifer Palmieri 2011โ14 Senior Advisor to the President and Valerie Jarrett 2009โ17 Amy Brundage 2014โ16 Assistant to the President for Liz Allen 2016โ17 Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs 2009โ11 Director, Public Engagement Tina Tchen 2009โ11 Jay Carney 2011โ13 Jon Carson 2011โ13 Josh Earnest 2013โ17 Paulette L. Aniskoff 2013โ17 Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton 2009โ11 Director, Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muรฑoz 2009โ12 Josh Earnest 2011โ13 David Agnew 2012โ14 Eric Schultz 2014โ17 Jerry Abramson 2014โ17 Director of Special Projects Stephanie Cutter 2010โ11 Director, National Economic Council Lawrence Summers 2009โ10 Director, Speechwriting Jon Favreau 2009โ13 Gene Sperling 2011โ14 Cody Keenan 2013โ17 Jeff Zients 2014โ17 Director, Digital Strategy Macon Phillips 2009โ13 Chair, Council of Economic Advisers Christina Romer 2009โ10 Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman 2015โ17 Austan Goolsbee 2010โ13 Director, Legislative Affairs Phil Schiliro 2009โ11 Jason Furman 2013โ17 Rob Nabors 2011โ13 Chair, Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker 2009โ11 Katie Beirne Fallon 2013โ16 Chair, Council on Jobs and Competitiveness Jeff Immelt 2011โ13 Miguel Rodriguez 2016 Director, Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes 2009โ12 Amy Rosenbaum 2016โ17 Cecilia Muรฑoz 2012โ17 Director, Political Affairs Patrick Gaspard 2009โ11 Director, Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Joshua DuBois 2009โ13 David Simas 2011โ16 Melissa Rogers 2013โ17 Director, Presidential Personnel Nancy Hogan 2009โ13 Director, Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle 2009โ11 Johnathan D. McBride 2013โ14 Director, Office of National AIDS Policy Jeffrey Crowley 2009โ11 Valerie E. Green 2014โ15 Grant N. Colfax 2011โ13 Rodin A. Mehrbani 2016โ17 Douglas M. Brooks 2013โ17 White House Staff Secretary Lisa Brown 2009โ11 Director, Office of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carriรณn Jr. 2009โ10 Rajesh De 2011โ12 Racquel S. Russell 2010โ14 Douglas Kramer 2012โ13 Roy Austin Jr. 2014โ17 Joani Walsh 2014โ17 Director, Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Carol Browner 2009โ11 Director, Management and Administration Bradley J. Kiley 2009โ11 White House Counsel Greg Craig 2009โ10 Katy A. Kale 2011โ15 Bob Bauer 2010โ11 Maju Varghese 2015โ17 Kathryn Ruemmler 2011โ14 Director, Scheduling and Advance Alyssa Mastromonaco 2009โ11 Neil Eggleston 2014โ17 Danielle Crutchfield 2011โ14 White House Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu 2009โ13 Chase Cushman 2014โ17 Danielle C. Gray 2013โ14 Director, White House Information Technology David Recordon 2015โ17 Broderick D. Johnson 2014โ17 Director, Office of Administration Cameron Moody 2009โ11 Personal Aide to the President Reggie Love 2009โ11 Beth Jones 2011โ15 Brian Mosteller 2011โ12 Cathy Solomon 2015โ17 Marvin D. Nicholson 2012โ17 Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren 2009โ17 Director, Oval Office Operations Brian Mosteller 2012โ17 Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra 2009โ12 Personal Secretary to the President Katie Johnson 2009โ11 Todd Park 2012โ14 Anita Decker Breckenridge 2011โ14 Megan Smith 2014โ17 Ferial Govashiri 2014โ17 Director, Office of Management and Budget Peter R. Orszag 2009โ10 Chief of Staff to the First Lady Jackie Norris 2009 Jack Lew 2010โ12 Susan Sher 2009โ11 Jeff Zients 2012โ13 Tina Tchen 2011โ17 Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2013โ14 White House Social Secretary Desirรฉe Rogers 2009โ10 Brian Deese 2014 Julianna Smoot 2010โ11 Shaun Donovan 2014โ17 Jeremy Bernard 2011โ15 Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra 2009โ11 Deesha Dyer 2015โ17 Steven VanRoekel 2011โ14 Chief of Staff to the Vice President Ron Klain 2009โ11 Tony Scott 2015โ17 Bruce Reed 2011โ13 United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk 2009โ13 Steve Ricchetti 2013โ17 Michael Froman 2013โ17 White House Chief Usher Stephen W. Rochon โ 2009โ11 Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske 2009โ14 Angella Reid 2011โ17 Michael Botticelli 2014โ17 Director, White House Military Office George Mulligan 2009โ13 Chair, Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley 2009โ14 Emmett Beliveau 2013โ15 Michael Boots 2014โ15 Dabney Kern 2016โ17 Christy Goldfuss 2015โ17
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