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Alyssa Mastromonaco
Mastromonaco at the White House in 2009
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
In office January 27, 2011 – May 22, 2014
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Jim Messina
Succeeded by	Anita Decker Breckenridge
Personal details
Born	Alyssa Mende Mastromonaco (1976-02-22) February 22, 1976 (age 48) Rhinebeck, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	David Krone ​(m. 2013)​
Education	University of Wisconsin, Madison (BA)

Alyssa Mende Mastromonaco (born February 22, 1976) is an American author, podcaster, spokeswoman, and former government official. She served as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for operations in the administration of President Barack Obama from 2011 to 2014. She was the youngest woman to hold that position. She was later President of Global Communications Strategy & Talent at A&E Networks and the chief operating officer of Vice Media. She has also been a contributing editor at Marie Claire magazine. Since 2017, Mastromonaco has been a podcaster with Crooked Media.

Early life and education

Mastromonaco grew up in Rhinebeck, New York. Her father was a business consultant and her mother was a high school lunch aide.

In 1994, she graduated from Rhinebeck High School. During high school Mastromonaco worked in various jobs, including her first job as a checkout person at a grocery store called Kilmer's IGA.

Mastromonaco went to the University of Vermont for two years, majoring in French with a minor in Japanese. She then transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1998.

Career

The summer after her sophomore year of college, after seeing then-Congressman Bernie Sanders speak on campus, Mastromonaco was hired by Philip Fiermonte to work as an intern for Sanders in his Burlington, Vermont, district office. At that time, Sanders was campaigning for his fourth term in the United States House of Representatives. Mastromonaco has said that the experience inspired her to work in government after seeing how it was possible to help people doing constituent work on a grassroots level. Although she had transferred to Wisconsin to study French, the summer working for Sanders shifted her passion from studying French and Japanese to studying political science. She cites Fiermonte as a great mentor during an important time in her life. The next summer, Mastromonaco was invited to work for Sanders in Washington, D.C.

After college Mastromonaco wanted to continue working in government but couldn't find a job, so she worked as a real-estate investment-trust paralegal, which she said was instrumental in teaching her how to work well as part of a team. The job was in the World Trade Center.

In 2000, Mastromonaco moved to Boston and got her first job in politics as a staff assistant to Senator John Kerry. For a short time, after 9/11, she worked at a Republican lobbyist group, Richard Berman's American Beverage Institute, as director of membership. In 2002, Mastromonaco was hired as Press Secretary for Congressman Rick Boucher of Virginia, but in December 2002 went back to work for Kerry. In 2004, Mastromonaco was hired as the director of scheduling for Kerry's presidential campaign.

Obama administration

Starting in February 2004, Mastromonaco joined the then Illinois State Senator Barack Obama's campaign during his run for United States Senate. She was hired as Director of Scheduling. The team who made up that office included Jon Favreau, Tommy Vietor, Robert Gibbs, and Pete Rouse. She then worked in Obama's Senate office.

From 2007 to 2008, Mastromonaco was Political Director for Obama's Political Action Committee (PAC), Hopefund, during the 2006 midterm elections. The mission of the PAC was to teach young people who had no experience in the political process how to be field and community organizers. Following Obama's announcement in February 2007, Mastromonaco served as Director of Scheduling and Advance for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

In January 2011, she was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. In November 2011, The New Republic magazine listed Mastromonaco on its "2011 List Issue" as being one of Washington's most powerful, least famous people. Along with Nancy-Ann DeParle, who was White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, it was the first time a presidential administration had two women deputies in power. She was notable for her long institutional memory, the ability to understand logistics, and her low-key approach to the position.

In May 2014, Mastromonaco left her position as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. She was replaced by Anita Decker Breckenridge.

Post-White House

In June 2014, Mastromonaco was hired as a contributing editor at Marie Claire. In January 2015, Mastromonaco joined Vice Media as chief operating officer. She left Vice after two years for its parent company, A&E Networks. She left this role in 2018.

Mastromonaco's first book, Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House, was published by Twelve in March 2017. Her second book, So...Here's the Thing, was released in 2019. Lauren Oyler contributed to Mastromonaco's writing on both books.

In 2017, Mastromonaco became a contributor to Crooked Media. There, she co-hosts the podcast Hysteria and appears on other Crooked Media podcasts.

In 2022, Mastromonaco was named President of BedBy8, a production company launched by George Stephanopolous and Ali Wentworth.

Personal life

In November 2013, Mastromonaco married David Krone, who had worked with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and was his Chief of Staff from 2008 to 2015. They were married by Justice Elena Kagan at the Supreme Court. As of 2015, the couple live in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City.

Boards and memberships

• HeadCount.org, Board of Directors
• The Kennedy Center, Board of Trustees
• University of Wisconsin–Madison, Department of Political Science, Board of Visitors

Published books

• Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?, Hachette Book Group, 2017, ISBN 978-1-4555-8822-0, ISBN 978-1-4555-8821-3
• So Here's the Thing . . .: Notes on Growing Up, Getting Older, and Trusting Your Gut, Grand Central Publishing, 2019, ISBN 978-1-5387-3155-0

References

1. "A Mastromonaco – United States Public Records". FamilySearch.
2. "'Obama's People': A Who's Who". The New York Times. January 18, 2009.
3. Kander, Nadav (January 18, 2009). "Obama's People: Alyssa Mastromonaco, 32. White House Scheduling and Advance Director" (Photo gallery with audio). The New York Times.
4. ^ Murray, Shailagh (December 22, 2008). "The Busy Life of Obama Scheduler Alyssa Mastromonaco". The Washington Post.
5. ^ "Barbara K. Fergus Women in Leadership Lecture Featuring Alyssa Mastromonaco – 2014 Fergus Leadership Lecture". John Glenn College of Public Affairs. Ohio State University. November 13, 2014.
6. "Alyssa Mastromonaco, A&E Television Networks LLC: Profile & Biography". Bloomberg. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
7. Andreeva, Nellie (December 21, 2016). "Vice Media COO Alyssa Mastromonaco Joins A+E Networks As President Of Global Communications Strategy & Talent". Deadline. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
8. ^ Steel, Emily (November 16, 2014). "Vice Hires Alyssa Mastromonaco, Former Official in Obama White House, as a Top Executive". The New York Times.
9. ^ Cherlin, Reid (April 29, 2013). "Alyssa Mastromonaco: The White House Gatekeeper". Marie Claire.
10. Tumulty, Brian (January 28, 2011). "Rhinebeck native promoted to Obama deputy chief of staff". Poughkeepsie Journal. Archived from the original on January 31, 2011.
11. ^ Amoruso, Sophia (July 14, 2016). "#Girlboss Radio: Alyssa Mastromonaco, COO of Vice Media & Former Deputy Chief of Staff to President Obama". Nasty Galaxy. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
12. Price, Jenny (Summer 2010). "Right On Schedule". On Wisconsin.
13. ^ "Board of Visitors: Political Science". Department of Political Science. University of Wisconsin–Madison. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
14. Handler, Chelsea (October 20, 2016). "That's When Madea Was Born" (Video interview). Chelsea. Netflix.
15. ^ Rose, Charlie (April 17, 2014). "Alyssa Mastromonaco" (Video interview, includes transcript). Charlie Rose.
16. Retter, Daphne (July 18, 2002). "People on the move". Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor.
17. "Alyssa Mastromonaco". WhoRunsGov.com. The Washington Post. June 23, 2009. Archived from the original on September 25, 2009.
18. Mastromonaco, Alyssa (July 17, 2014). "Being informed and fashionable is natural for women". The Washington Post.
19. McCormick, John (June 11, 2007). "Chicago is heart, brain center of Obama campaign". Chicago Tribune.
20. ^ Tapper, Jake (January 27, 2011). "Jay Carney to Be New W.H. Press Secretary". ABC News.
21. The Editors (October 12, 2011). "Washington's Most Powerful, Least Famous People. Alyssa Mastromonaco: White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations". The New Republic. {{cite magazine}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
22. Newton-Small, Jay (January 5, 2016). "Meet the Obama White House's 'Smurfettes'". Time.
23. ^ Calmes, Jackie (March 8, 2014). "Long Wielding Power Behind the Scenes, Now Taking Her Leave". The New York Times.
24. Golden, Melissa (July 31, 2013). "Alyssa Mastromonaco for Marie Claire". The Golden Hour. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
25. Rose, Charlie (April 17, 2014). "Longtime Obama aide Alyssa Mastromonaco on working with the president and leaving the White House". CBS This Morning. CBS News.
26. Favole, Jared A. (March 19, 2014). "Meet Anita Decker Breckenridge, Obama's New Deputy Chief of Staff". The Wall Street Journal.
27. O'Shea, Chris (June 18, 2014). "Alyssa Mastromonaco Joins Marie Claire". Adweek.
28. "Alyssa Mastromonaco Named Contributing Editor to Marie Claire". Hearst. June 18, 2014.
29. "Mastromonaco exits A+E communications post". New York Post. July 10, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
30. "Back at the White House, this time to protest: ex Obama aide has some advice". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
31. Silman, Anna (January 25, 2021). "What Does Lauren Oyler Like?". The Cut. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
32. "Crooked Media Announces New Site, Pod, Store, and Network of Very Fine People on Both Sides | Crooked Media". Crooked Media. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
33. "Hysteria". Crooked Media. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
34. Andreeva, Nellie (December 2, 2022). "George Stephanopulos & Ali Wentworth Launch BedBy8 Production Company, Set 'Let's Not Do This Again' & 'Intelligence' As First Projects". Deadline. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
35. Horowitz, Jason (November 21, 2014). "The Making of a Washington Power Couple". The New York Times.
36. Horowitz, Jason (April 10, 2015). "David Krone Leaves Latest Washington Stint, Quietly". The New York Times.
37. Halberg, Morgan (December 10, 2015). "Political Power Couple Alyssa Mastromonaco and David Krone Make Moves to Tribeca". The New York Observer.
38. Horowitz, Jason (November 21, 2014). "Reid Is Unapologetic as Aide Steps on Toes, Even the President's". The New York Times.
39. "Board of Directors – HeadCount". HeadCount.
40. "Board of Trustees". John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
41. "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov. August 20, 2014 – via National Archives.

External links

• Alyssa Mastromonaco on Twitter
• Appearances on C-SPAN

v t e Obama administration personnel
v t e Cabinet and cabinet-level Office Name Term Office Name Term Secretary of State John Kerry 2013–2017 Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew 2013–2017 Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter 2015–2017 Attorney General Loretta Lynch 2015–2017 Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell 2013–2017 Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack 2009–2017 Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker 2013–2017 Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez 2013–2017 Secretary of Health and   Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2014–2017 Secretary of Education Secretary of Transportation John King Jr. Anthony Foxx 2016–2017 2013–2017 Secretary of Housing and Urban   Development Julian Castro 2014–2017 Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald 2014–2017 Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz 2013–2017 Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson 2013–2017 Vice President Joe Biden 2009–2017 White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough 2013–2017 Director of the Office of Management and   Budget Shaun Donovan 2014–2017 Administrator of the Environmental   Protection Agency Gina McCarthy 2013–2017 Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power 2013–2017 Chair of the Council of Economic   Advisers Jason Furman 2013–2017 Trade Representative Michael Froman 2013–2017 Administrator of the Small Business Administration Maria Contreras-Sweet 2014–2017 Below solid line: Granted Cabinet rank although not automatically part of the Cabinet. See also: Confirmations of Barack Obama's Cabinet
v t e Executive Office of the President Office Name Term Office Name Term White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel 2009–10 National Security Advisor James L. Jones 2009–10 Pete Rouse 2010–11 Thomas E. Donilon 2010–13 William M. Daley 2011–12 Susan Rice 2013–17 Jack Lew 2012–13 Deputy National Security Advisor Thomas E. Donilon 2009–10 Denis McDonough 2013–17 Denis McDonough 2010–13 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Mona Sutphen 2009–11 Antony Blinken 2013–14 Nancy-Ann DeParle 2011–13 Avril Haines 2015–17 Rob Nabors 2013–15 Dep. National Security Advisor, Homeland Security John O. Brennan 2009–13 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Jim Messina 2009–11 Lisa Monaco 2013–17 Alyssa Mastromonaco 2011–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Iraq and Afghanistan Douglas Lute† 2009–13 Anita Decker Breckenridge 2014–17 Dep. National Security Advisor, Strategic Comm. Ben Rhodes 2009–17 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning Mark B. Childress 2012–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Chief of Staff Mark Lippert 2009 Kristie Canegallo 2014–17 Denis McDonough 2009–10 Counselor to the President Pete Rouse 2011–13 Brooke D. Anderson 2011–12 John Podesta 2014–15 White House Communications Director Ellen Moran 2009 Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod 2009–11 Anita Dunn 2009 David Plouffe 2011–13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2009–13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2013–15 Jennifer Palmieri 2013–15 Shailagh Murray 2015–17 Jen Psaki 2015–17 Senior Advisor to the President Pete Rouse 2009–10 Deputy White House Communications Director Jen Psaki 2009–11 Brian Deese 2015–17 Jennifer Palmieri 2011–14 Senior Advisor to the President and Valerie Jarrett 2009–17 Amy Brundage 2014–16 Assistant to the President for Liz Allen 2016–17 Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs 2009–11 Director, Public Engagement Tina Tchen 2009–11 Jay Carney 2011–13 Jon Carson 2011–13 Josh Earnest 2013–17 Paulette L. Aniskoff 2013–17 Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton 2009–11 Director, Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muñoz 2009–12 Josh Earnest 2011–13 David Agnew 2012–14 Eric Schultz 2014–17 Jerry Abramson 2014–17 Director of Special Projects Stephanie Cutter 2010–11 Director, National Economic Council Lawrence Summers 2009–10 Director, Speechwriting Jon Favreau 2009–13 Gene Sperling 2011–14 Cody Keenan 2013–17 Jeff Zients 2014–17 Director, Digital Strategy Macon Phillips 2009–13 Chair, Council of Economic Advisers Christina Romer 2009–10 Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman 2015–17 Austan Goolsbee 2010–13 Director, Legislative Affairs Phil Schiliro 2009–11 Jason Furman 2013–17 Rob Nabors 2011–13 Chair, Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker 2009–11 Katie Beirne Fallon 2013–16 Chair, Council on Jobs and Competitiveness Jeff Immelt 2011–13 Miguel Rodriguez 2016 Director, Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes 2009–12 Amy Rosenbaum 2016–17 Cecilia Muñoz 2012–17 Director, Political Affairs Patrick Gaspard 2009–11 Director, Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Joshua DuBois 2009–13 David Simas 2011–16 Melissa Rogers 2013–17 Director, Presidential Personnel Nancy Hogan 2009–13 Director, Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle 2009–11 Johnathan D. McBride 2013–14 Director, Office of National AIDS Policy Jeffrey Crowley 2009–11 Valerie E. Green 2014–15 Grant N. Colfax 2011–13 Rodin A. Mehrbani 2016–17 Douglas M. Brooks 2013–17 White House Staff Secretary Lisa Brown 2009–11 Director, Office of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carrión Jr. 2009–10 Rajesh De 2011–12 Racquel S. Russell 2010–14 Douglas Kramer 2012–13 Roy Austin Jr. 2014–17 Joani Walsh 2014–17 Director, Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Carol Browner 2009–11 Director, Management and Administration Bradley J. Kiley 2009–11 White House Counsel Greg Craig 2009–10 Katy A. Kale 2011–15 Bob Bauer 2010–11 Maju Varghese 2015–17 Kathryn Ruemmler 2011–14 Director, Scheduling and Advance Alyssa Mastromonaco 2009–11 Neil Eggleston 2014–17 Danielle Crutchfield 2011–14 White House Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu 2009–13 Chase Cushman 2014–17 Danielle C. Gray 2013–14 Director, White House Information Technology David Recordon 2015–17 Broderick D. Johnson 2014–17 Director, Office of Administration Cameron Moody 2009–11 Personal Aide to the President Reggie Love 2009–11 Beth Jones 2011–15 Brian Mosteller 2011–12 Cathy Solomon 2015–17 Marvin D. Nicholson 2012–17 Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren 2009–17 Director, Oval Office Operations Brian Mosteller 2012–17 Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra 2009–12 Personal Secretary to the President Katie Johnson 2009–11 Todd Park 2012–14 Anita Decker Breckenridge 2011–14 Megan Smith 2014–17 Ferial Govashiri 2014–17 Director, Office of Management and Budget Peter R. Orszag 2009–10 Chief of Staff to the First Lady Jackie Norris 2009 Jack Lew 2010–12 Susan Sher 2009–11 Jeff Zients 2012–13 Tina Tchen 2011–17 Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2013–14 White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers 2009–10 Brian Deese 2014 Julianna Smoot 2010–11 Shaun Donovan 2014–17 Jeremy Bernard 2011–15 Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra 2009–11 Deesha Dyer 2015–17 Steven VanRoekel 2011–14 Chief of Staff to the Vice President Ron Klain 2009–11 Tony Scott 2015–17 Bruce Reed 2011–13 United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk 2009–13 Steve Ricchetti 2013–17 Michael Froman 2013–17 White House Chief Usher Stephen W. Rochon† 2009–11 Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske 2009–14 Angella Reid 2011–17 Michael Botticelli 2014–17 Director, White House Military Office George Mulligan 2009–13 Chair, Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley 2009–14 Emmett Beliveau 2013–15 Michael Boots 2014–15 Dabney Kern 2016–17 Christy Goldfuss 2015–17 † Remained from previous administration.
v t e Office of the Vice President Position Appointee Chief of Staff to the Vice President Steve Ricchetti Counsel to the Vice President Cynthia Hogan Counselor to the Vice President Mike Donilon Assistant to the Vice President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison Evan Ryan Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Communications Shailagh Murray Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President Shailagh Murray Deputy National Security Adviser to the Vice President Brian P. McKeon Residence Manager and Social Secretary for the Vice President and Second Lady Carlos Elizondo National Security Adviser to the Vice President Colin Kahl Position Appointee Chief of Staff to the Second Lady Catherine M. Russell Director of Administration for the Office of the Vice President Moises Vela Domestic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Terrell McSweeny Chief Economist and Economic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Jared Bernstein Press Secretary to the Vice President Elizabeth Alexander Deputy Press Secretary to the Vice President Annie Tomasini Director of Legislative Affairs Sudafi Henry Director of Communications for the Second Lady Courtney O’Donnell

• 1976 births
• 21st-century American non-fiction writers
• 21st-century American women writers
• American chief operating officers
• American magazine editors
• American political podcasters
• American people of Italian descent
• American women podcasters
• Living people
• New York (state) Democrats
• Obama administration personnel
• People from Rhinebeck, New York
• People from Tribeca
• University of Vermont alumni
• University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science alumni
• Vice Media
• White House Deputy Chiefs of Staff
• Women government officials
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