Richard Grenell

Richard Grenell (born September 18, 1966) is an American media commentator and former diplomat. He is the longest serving U.S. spokesman at the United Nations. Grenell also briefly served as national security spokesman for Mitt Romney in his 2012 campaign for President of the United States, becoming the first openly gay spokesman for a Republican presidential candidate. He resigned after pressure from social conservatives.

Career

In 2001, Grenell was appointed by President George W. Bush as Director of Communications and Public Diplomacy for the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Serving in that role until 2008, Grenell became the longest serving U.S. spokesman at the United Nations, advising four different U.S. Ambassadors. During his tenure, Grenell led communication strategies on such issues as the War on Terror, global peacekeeping operations, Iran and North Korea's nuclear weapons programs, and the UN Oil for Food corruption scandal.

Prior to his post at the UN, Grenell was a political adviser to a number of prominent Republicans, including George Pataki and Dave Camp.