Kurt Campbell
Deputy Secretary of State
Kurt Michael Campbell was born in August 1957 in Fresno, California. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego. He received a D.Phil from Breasenose College, Oxford.
He served in the U.S. Navy, on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Special Intelligence Unit of the Chief of Naval Operations. He was an associate professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He was also an assistant director of the Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard. He has served as an executive on national and international security.
President Obama appointed Campbell as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs. He later served on an editorial board and founded an advisory company that specialized in Asia. He served on the Council on Foreign Relations.
President Biden nominated Campbell to Deputy Secretary of State and the Senate confirmed him in February of 2024. He was sworn into office a week later.
He is married to Lael Brainard.
In the News…
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell spoke with Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro after an incident between the Philippine and Chinese navies in the South China Sea. Filipino boats were confronted by Chinese coast guard who disrupted the supply mission.
State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said the two diplomats agreed that China’s “dangerous actions threatened regional peace and stability.”
Spokesperson Miller continued, “Deputy Secretary Campbell and Undersecretary Lazaro discussed shared concerns over the People’s Republic of China’s escalatory and irresponsible actions on June 17, which obstructed the Philippines from executing a lawful maritime operation in the South China Sea, interfering with the Philippines’ freedom of navigation.“
He added, “The Deputy Secretary reaffirmed that Article IV of the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea. Deputy Secretary Campbell and Undersecretary Lazaro further reiterated the critical importance of the United States-Philippines alliance to maintaining our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.“
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Deputy Secretary Campbell today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
