Denis McDonough facts for kids

Denis McDonough
Quick facts for kids Denis McDonough
11th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs
	Incumbent
	Assumed office; February 9, 2021
President	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Robert Wilkie
26th White House Chief of Staff
	In office; January 20, 2013 – January 20, 2017
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Jack Lew
Succeeded by	Reince Priebus
United States Deputy National Security Advisor
	In office; October 20, 2010 – January 20, 2013
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Thomas E. Donilon
Succeeded by	Tony Blinken
Chief of Staff of the National Security Council
	In office; October 20, 2009 – October 20, 2010
President	Barack Obama
Leader	James Jones
Preceded by	Mark Lippert
Succeeded by	Brooke Anderson
Personal details
Born	Denis Richard McDonough ; December 2, 1969 (age 52); Stillwater, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Karin Hillstrom
Children	3
Education	St. John's University, Minnesota (BA); Georgetown University (MS)

Denis Richard McDonough (born December 2, 1969) is an American politician. He is the 11th and current United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs since February 9, 2021. McDonough is the second non-veteran to serve in this position. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

He was the 26th White House Chief of Staff from 2013 to 2017 during the Barack Obama presidency.

In December 2020, then President-elect Joe Biden nominated McDonough to serve as the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs in his administration. On February 8, 2021, the United States Senate confirmed McDonough to be Secretary of the VA in a vote of 87-7, with 6 senators absent.

Images for kids

McDonough, seated, third from right in blue shirt, in the Situation Room during the Bin Laden raid.
McDonough conferring with Obama about the Cairo Speech, with Ben Rhodes, on June 4, 2009.
Secretary McDonough with First Lady Jill Biden and Secretary Xavier Becerra, June 4, 2021