David Simas


David Simas is the CEO of the Obama Foundation and served in Barack Obama's administration as the White House Director of Political Affairs from 2011 to 2016.

Early life

Simas was born and raised in Taunton, Massachusetts by Portuguese immigrant parents, Antonio and Deolinda Simas. Deolinda Simas lost two of her fingers in a faulty machine at the silver factory where she worked when Simas was a child. The Portuguese immigrant lawyer who worked on the case inspired Simas to become a lawyer.

Education

Simas attended Coyle and Cassidy High School and then gained a degree from Stonehill College. He graduated with a J.D. degree from Boston College Law School in 1995.

Career

Simas worked as Deputy Chief of Staff to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick from 2007 until 2009. In 2009, he joined the Obama White House as a Deputy Assistant to the President, working under Senior Advisor David Axelrod.
Simas worked as director of opinion research for President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign and then served as a liaison between the president and Democratic officials for two and a half years. He was appointed CEO of the Obama Foundation in December 2016.

Personal life

Simas married his high school sweetheart, Shauna. They have two daughters and live in Hyde Park in Chicago.