Adewale Adeyemo Confirmed as the First African-American Deputy Secretary of the US Treasury
Adewale Wally Adeyemo has been confirmed Deputy Treasury Secretary by the United States Senate, following his nomination by US President Joe Biden in November 2020. On his appointment, Adewale becomes the first African-American to assume Deputy Secretary of the US treasury department’s position. He serves under Chair Janet Yellen, the US Treasury Secretary.
Before his appointment, Adewale was described on the Biden-Harris’ presidential transition website as “a leader with deep experience across both the economic and national security space.”
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Adewale has spent his career working at the intersection of US national security and economic interests. While exercising his duty, he has become “a master of shuttle economic diplomacy” that has helped to keep America’s economy strong and competitive.
As Deputy Treasury Secretary, Adewale will be instrumental in shaping the US economic policy on issues ranging from financial regulations to US sanctions on foreign governments.
A Nigerian-born American attorney, Adewale completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School.
Since starting his career, Adewale has served in reputable organizations across the public, private and non-profit sectors. He has held various management positions at the US Department of Treasury including being Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff.
Adewale was the first president of the Obama Foundation and served from August 2019 to March 2021. Relatively, he served during the Obama administration as Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council from September 2015 to January 2017. Then, he advised on trade, energy, investment, and was Obama’s representative to the G-20 and G-7.
Before Obama Foundation, Adewale was an Editor at the Hamilton Project and served as Senior Advisor/Deputy Chief of Staff to Jack Lew in the US Treasury Department from October 2011 to September 2015. Adewale further worked as Chief Negotiator for the Transpacific Partnership in the US Department of Treasury.
Wally has recorded several milestones in his career including being the first Chief of Staff to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (August 2010 – October 2011) under Elizabeth Warren, a senior US Senator from Massachusetts.
In recognition of his contributions to leadership and economic policy, Adewale is a Board Member of various organizations including the Aspen Strategy Group and the Golden State Opportunity Foundation.
Congratulations Adewale Wally Adeyemo.