Jose W. Fernandez

Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs (since Jan. 2010)

(State.gov)

Why He Matters

Fernandez has been tapped for one of the most challenging jobs at the State Department. His job would require him to promote economic security at home and abroad - a task made all the more compelling by the 2008-2009 economic crisis.

But Fernandez is prepared. In his three decades as a lawyer, he has handled some of the most complex litigation issues in Latin America including infrastructure projects in the telecommunications, oil and gas, electricity, water, aviation and mining sectors. His experience thinking in broad terms about a region's legal, government and economic interests will serve him well.

More on: Jose W. Fernandez

At a Glance
Path to Power
The Issues
The Network
Additional Resources

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: Partner, Latham and Watkins (2006 to 2009)
Hometown: Cuba

Alma Mater: Dartmouth College, B.A., 1977, Columbia Law School, J.D., 1980; Dartmouth College, MA, 2002

Path to Power

Fernandez was born in Cuba. He attended Dartmouth University, where he studied history, wrote for the student newspaper and sat on the student Committee on Student Life. He was also an avid outdoorsman. "I came from pretty much an urban setting, and I really tried to take advantage of the rural aspects of Dartmouth," Fernandez told The Dartmouth in May 2002.

Fernandez graduated from Dartmouth in 1977 andmoved to New York to pursue his J.D. from Columbia Law School. After graduating in 1980, he worked for a law firm in Spain while also pursuing a professional basketball career.

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The Issues

,a(R)During his three decades in law, Fernandez has addressed some of the most challenging legal issues in Latin America. He has handled complex acquisitions for corporations and private equity firms and has advised on financings and privatizations, among other issues. He has also worked with several of the region's major industries and was involved in half the telecommunications privatizations in Latin America.

Latin America and the U.S. ,a(R)"Latin America is not Washington's to lose; nor is it Washington's to save." That was the conclusion of a Council on Foreign Relations-sponsored report 'A New Direction in Latin America' that Fernandez helped to write. The sweeping report concludes that the U.S .is no longer the most important influence in Latin America. "If there was an era of U.S. hegemony in Latin America, it is over," the report concludes.

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The Network

Fernandez sat on the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) with Maria Otero, the current under secretary for democracy and global affairs. He sat on several CFR panels with R. Rand Beers, under secretary for national protection and programs at the Department of Homeland Security and Otero, former ACCION head and current under secretary for democracy and global affairs. He also served on ACCION's board.

At the State Department, Fernandez will work for Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Robert Hormats and U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy Philip Verveer.

Additional Resources