Anita Decker Breckenridge

Anita Decker Breckenridge (born July 19, 1978) is an American political staffer who served in a number of positions in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was appointed White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in March 2014,^[1] a position she took up in May 2014.^[2]

Anita Decker Breckenridge
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
In office May 22, 2014 – January 20, 2017
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Alyssa Mastromonaco
Succeeded by	Joe Hagin
Personal Secretary to the President
In office June 10, 2011 – May 22, 2014
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Katie Johnson
Succeeded by	Ferial Govashiri
Personal details
Born	Anita Decker (1978-07-19) July 19, 1978 (age 46) Kenilworth, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Russell Breckenridge ​ ​ (m. 2010)​
Education	University of Arizona (BA)

In January 2017, Breckenridge was named Chief of Staff for Barack Obama's post-presidency office. Her portfolio includes the Obama Foundation and Obama presidential library. She also oversees the presidential records process.^[3]

Early life

Breckenridge was born and spent her early years in Kenilworth, Illinois.^[1] She graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois in 1996; while at high school she was an intern for US Senator Dick Durbin.^[4][5][6] She studied political science at the University of Arizona, graduating in 2000.^[5]

Career

She worked for Representative Lane Evans, and in 2003 moved to work for Obama, who was then a member of the Illinois Senate.^[4] She ran all of Obama's Downstate Illinois offices when he was US Senator for the state, and managed the 2007 announcement of his candidacy for President.^[1][7][8]

After his election she served as Chief of Staff at the National Endowment for the Arts until May 2011, when she became personal secretary to the President, taking over from Katie Johnson.^[8][9]

In March 2014 the White House announced she would become Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, replacing Alyssa Mastromonaco.^[1]

Personal life

She married political consultant Russell Breckenridge in 2010.^[10]

References

1. Jared A. Favole (19 March 2014). "Meet Anita Decker Breckenridge, Obama's New Deputy Chief of Staff". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
2. Jackie Calmes (8 March 2014). "Long Wielding Power Behind the Scenes, Now Taking Her Leave". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
3. Lynn Sweet (7 January 2017). "Breckenridge to Oversee post-presidency". Chicago Sun Times. Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
4. Bernard Schoenburg (30 March 2014). "Breckenridge trusted adviser to Obama". The State Journal-Register. Springfield, Illinois. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
5. Katherine Skiba (9 June 2011). "Obama taps Chicagoan as aide". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
6. Josh Gerstein (7 January 2017). "Obama taps long time aide to oversee presidential records process". Politico. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
7. Mark Landler; Jeff Zeleny (January 20, 2013). "Many of the President's Men Are Moving On, Though He May Still Turn to Them". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
8. Glenn Thrush (18 March 2014). "Obama picks top aide to replace deputy chief of staff". Politico. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
9. "Obama selects replacement for departing top aide". CNN. 18 March 2014. Archived from the original on March 19, 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
10. "Decker - Breckenridge Wedding". Taylorville Breeze Courier. Taylorville, Illinois. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

Political offices
Preceded by Katie Johnson	Personal Secretary to the President 2011–2014	Succeeded by Ferial Govashiri
Preceded by Alyssa Mastromonaco	White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations 2014–2017	Succeeded by Joe Hagin