The Chief of Protocol is an officer of the United States Department of State responsible for advising the President of the United States, the Vice President, and the Secretary of State on official matters of national and international diplomatic protocol. The Chief arranges itineraries for foreign dignitaries visiting the United States, and accompanies the President on all official international travel. Additionally, the Office of the Chief of Protocols is responsible for accrediting foreign diplomats, and publishing the list of foreign consular offices in the US; organizing ceremonies for treaty signings and ambassadorial swearing-in; maintaining the Blair House, the official guest house for state visitors. The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ... The presidential seal was used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... The Vice President of the United States is the second-highest executive official of the United States government. ... The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. ... For meanings in specific fields, see protocol (computing) or protocol (cryptography). ... Blair House is a guest house for state visitors to Washington, D.C. (in the United States of America). ...

The current Chief of Protocol is Donald Ensenat.

The Office has five divisions, led by Assistant Chiefs, who oversee the principal duties:

• Management, Assistant Chief Annette Feeley
• Visits, Assistant Chief Andrew Ciafardini
• Ceremonials, Assistant Chief Amy Little.
• Diplomatic Affairs, Assistant Chief Gladys Boluda
• Blair House, Assistant Chief Randell Bumgardner

See also

• diplomacy
• diplomatic rank
• ambassador

The United Nations, with its headquarters in New York City, is the largest international diplomatic organization. ... The system of diplomatic rank has over time been formalised on an international basis. ... An ambassador, rarely embassador, is a diplomatic official accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization, to serve as the official representative of his or her own country. ...

External links

• Office of the Chief of Protocol
• Biography of Donald Burnham Ensenat, current US Chief of Protocol