Michael Strautmanis


Michael Strautmanis is an American lawyer who served as Chief of Staff to the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Engagement, Valerie Jarrett during Barack Obama's Presidency. He also served as Chief Counsel and the Director of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs on Obama's presidential transition team.
In March, 2013, he announced his resignation from the White House staff in order to accept a post with the Walt Disney Corporation specializing in corporate citizenship. In January, 2016, he became the Vice President of Civic Engagement for the Obama Foundation.

Education

A Chicago, Illinois native, Strautmanis was educated at the law school of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He started his legal career as a paralegal at the Sidley, Austin law firm, where he met the Obamas.

Career

Previously Strautmanis served the Clinton administration as Chief of Staff to the general counsel at the United States Agency for International Development, and then-U.S. Congressman Rod Blagojevich as legislative director. He worked for the American Association for Justice.

Works

In 2018, Strautmanis detailed his longstanding relationship with Michelle and Barack Obama and his experiences in the Obama White House in a chapter in West Wingers: Stories from the Dream Chasers, Change Makers, and Hope Creators Inside the Obama White House.