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 Bureaus/Offices Reporting Directly to the Secretary > Office of the Chief of Protocol

Office of the Chief of Protocol

Whether rolling out the red carpet for a King visiting the President at the White House, hosting a Prime Minister at the President's guesthouse, traveling overseas with the President, credentialing a new foreign Ambassador, or planning events for the Secretary of State, the duties of the Office of the Chief of Protocol are many and varied.

Under the direction of the Acting Chief of Protocol Laura B. Wills the office is responsible for activities including the planning, hosting, and officiating of ceremonial events for visiting chiefs of state and heads of government, as well as coordinating logistics for the visits; managing Blair House, the President's guesthouse; and overseeing all protocol matters for Presidential or Vice Presidential travel abroad, working alongside the White House.

Read more about what the Office of the Chief of Protocol does or click below to read about the divisional duties.

Visits

  • Plan and execute detailed programs for Chiefs of State and Heads of Government meeting with the President, Vice President or Secretary of State; coordinate foreign media.
  • Arrange arrivals of visiting dignitaries to the United States. 
  • Accompany the President on official visits abroad.
  • Propose and purchase gifts to give foreign leaders and receive reciprocal gifts on behalf of the President, First Lady, Vice President, Secretary of State and spouses.
  • Plan and execute Presidential Delegations abroad.

Ceremonials

  • Arrange official entertainment by the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of State in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms. 
  • Organize participation of the Diplomatic Corps in special events, Joint Sessions of Congress, inaugurations, funerals and other ceremonies.
  • Maintain the Order of Precedence of the United States.

Blair House Description: Photo of Blair House, the Presidents guesthouse in Washington, DC. State Dept photo.

  • The President’s official guest house for monarchs, presidents and prime ministers while in Washington.
  • Four interconnected townhouses; 110 rooms totaling 70,000 square feet; across the street from White House.
  • Built in 1824; owned by the Francis Preston Blair family from 1835 to 1943.
  • Purchased by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1943 as the President’s Guest House.

Diplomatic Affairs Description: Publication cover: United States Department of State Diplomatic List.

  • Oversee the accreditation of foreign Ambassadors and organize the presentation of their credentials to the President and Secretary of State.
  • Act as the President’s personal representative and liaison to foreign Ambassadors in Washington.
  • Determine the acceptability of foreign government personnel accredited to the United States.
  • Resolve Diplomatic Immunity cases.
  • Publish and maintain the Diplomatic List and the list of Foreign Consular Offices in the United States.

Management

The Great Seal

  • Administer the human resources, financial and information management systems, security and general services of the Office of the Chief of Protocol.
  • Provide guidance and support to all divisions of the office.

Gifts Unit

  • The Protocol Gift Unit within the Office of the Chief of Protocol serves as the central processing point for all Date: 03/17/2009 Description: Protocol Gift Unit logo. State Dept Phototangible gifts received from foreign sources, by employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal government.
  • The unit is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the official record of all gifts presented by the Department of State to officials of foreign governments.

-03/03/09   British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Visits White House
-02/24/09   Prime Minister Taro Aso of Japan Visits White House

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Date: 05/06/2009 Description: President Barack Obama with Afghan President Karzai and Pakistan President Zardari during a U.S.-Afghan-PakistanTrilateral meeting in Cabinet Room May 6, 2009. © Official White House Photo by Pete SouzaPresident Barack Obama meets with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zadari during their trilateral meeting at the White House on May 6, 2009.

Date: 05/06/2009 Description: Acting Chief of Protocol Gladys Boluda greets President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan upon his arrival at the White House to meet President Barack Obama. State Dept Photo Acting Chief of Protocol Gladys Boluda greeting President Karzai upon his arrival at the White House.

Date: 05/05/2009 Description: President Barack Obama welcomes Israeli President Shimon Peres in the Oval Office at the White House. © White House PhotoPresident Obama welcomes Israeli President Shimon Peres in the Oval Office on May 5, 2009.

Date: 03/25/2009 Location: Washington, DC Description: President Barack Obama meeting with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in the Oval Office on March 25, 2009. © White House Photo: Pete SouzaPresident Obama meets with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in the Oval Office, March 25, 2009.

Date: 03/24/2009 Location: Washington, DC Description: President Barack Obama in Oval office meeting with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on March 24, 2009. © White House Photo: Pete Souza

President Obama meets with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in the Oval Office, March 24, 2009.

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