Alumni Who Have Served in the Office of President or Vice President

Through the years, Lafayette alumni have served in a number of the administrations of U.S. Presidents, Vice Presidents, or their spouses. Our research has uncovered the names in the list below. If you are aware of others, please let us know by sending a message to commdiv@lafayette.edu.

Alan L. Hoffman ’88
Deputy Chief of Staff, 2009-present
Office of Vice President Joe Biden
President Barack Obama Administration
AB American Studies; JD, University of Southern California

Jim Hall ’90
Secret Service, 2009-present
Office of Vice President Joe Biden
President Barack Obama Administration
AB Economics and Business

Danielle Hartl ’11
White House Intern, 2011
Office of Presidential Correspondence
President Barack Obama Administration
AB Government & Law/English

Benton Wilmoth IV ’05
Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff
The White House, 2006-09
President George W. Bush Administration
AB Government and Law

Col. (Ret.) Howie Cohen ’79
Commander, White House Communications Agency, 2004-2006
President George W. Bush Administration
AB English; MPA Central Michigan University
Managing Director, National Security, MorganFranklin

Debra Romash Dunn ’78
Chief of Staff, 2001-03
Office of Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Richard Cheney
President George W. Bush Administration
Director, White House Visitors Center, 1989-92
President George H.W. Bush Administration
AB International Affairs

Brandt Siegel ’03
Special Assistant, National Security Council
White House, 2007-09
President George W. Bush Administration
AB English; MA International Affairs, George Washington University
Business Research Manager, The Right Place

Jennifer Gibbs ’02
White House Intern, 2001
Office of Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Richard Cheney
Special Assistant to Deputy Chief of Staff to Vice President, 2002-04
President George W. Bush Administration
AB Government and Law
Confidential Assistant, Department of Commerce, White House

Dr. David M. Albala ’78
White House Fellow, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1995-96
President Bill Clinton Administration
AB Geology, MD Michigan State University
Professor of Urology, Duke University

Robert A. Pastor ’69
U.S. National Security Adviser, Latin America and the Caribbean, 1977-81
President Jimmy Carter Administration
AB History; MPA and PhD Harvard University
Professor of International Relations, School of International Service, Director, Center for North American Studies and Center for Democracy and Election Management, American University

William E. Simon ’52
Secretary of the Treasury, 1974-77
President Richard Nixon and President Gerald Ford Administrations
AB Government and Law
Founder, William E. Simon & Sons, Inc.
Nov. 27, 1927-June 3, 2000

Frederick S. Benson III ’59
White House Fellow, Energy Policy, 1973-74
President Richard Nixon
AB Government and Law; MA Auburn University
Vice Chairman, U.S.-New Zealand Council

George H. Decker ’24
Chief of Staff, United States Army, 1960-1962
President Dwight D. Eisenhower and President John F. Kennedy Administration
BS Economics
Feb. 16, 1902- Feb. 6, 1980

Edward C. Welsh ’30
Executive Secretary, National Aeronautics and Space Council (White House advisory group), 1961-1969
President John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson Administration
AB Economics; PhD Ohio State University
March 20, 1909-March 25, 1990

Peyton C. March, Class of 1884
Chief of Staff, United States Army, 1918-1921 (World War I)
President Woodrow Wilson Administration
AB; BS U.S. Military Academy
Dec. 27, 1864-April 13, 1955

Alexander Ramsey, Class of 1836
Secretary of War, 1879-1881
[Secretary of War was a cabinet officer until 1947, when Department of Defense was created]
President Rutherford B. Hayes Administration
Sept. 18, 1815-April 22, 1903

He returned to Lafayette in 1880 with President Rutherford B. Hayes for the rededication of Pardee Hall.