Lee Satterfield

Ms. Lee Satterfield serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). She oversees a broad range of professional, cultural, youth, and sports exchange programs to increase mutual understanding between Americans and people around the world. Programs include the International Visitor Leadership Program, which for 70 years has brought established or potential foreign leaders and opinion makers to the United States to meet with their professional counterparts and to experience America firsthand, as well as initiatives supported by the Office of Citizen Exchanges such as The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad, academic year youth exchanges, including Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES), and the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX). Led by Ms. Satterfield, the Office of Professional and Cultural Exchanges also supports major public-private partnerships, including the Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists and the Fortune/State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Satterfield served as Deputy Chief of Protocol of the United States. In this role, Ms. Satterfield oversaw the visits of chiefs of state, heads of government, and other international dignitaries who visited the United States to meet with the President, Vice President, or Secretary of State. She also oversaw the Diplomatic Partnerships Division which conducts outreach to the Diplomatic Corps based in Washington, DC and presidential delegations sent to attend official ceremonies abroad representing the President.

Before serving in the Office of the Chief of Protocol, she lived abroad with her family in London, England for two years. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, she served in the Clinton Administration in several capacities. She was the Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, Special Assistant to the President and Staff Director for The White House Office of Public Liaison, Special Assistant to the President and Presidential Scheduler for President Clinton, and scheduler for Vice President Gore.

Following her service in the Clinton Administration, she was director of Convention Planning for the Democratic National Convention Committee where she oversaw the site selection process for the 2004 Democratic National Convention held in Boston, Massachusetts. She also served as deputy chief operating officer for the Democratic National Committee.

Ms. Satterfield is a native of South Carolina and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor of arts in journalism.