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About

Yohannes Abraham served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from 2022-2024 after being unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. During his tenure, the United States and ASEAN upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, significantly expanded people-to-people programs, and deepened cooperation across a range of key issues, including cybersecurity and health security.

Prior to serving as U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN, Abraham served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. National Security Council. As the NSC’s chief operating officer, he oversaw the White House Situation Room and the NSC’s budget, IT, HR, and strategic communications teams, among other functions. Previously, Abraham was the Executive Director of the Biden-Harris Transition.

Earlier in his career, Abraham served in several White House roles during the Obama Administration, including as Senior Advisor to the National Economic Council and as Deputy Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement. He later helped set up the Obama Foundation as interim Chief Operating Officer. Abraham has also worked in the Vanguard Group’s global investment unit and taught at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He is currently the Compton Visiting Professor of World Politics at the University of Virginia.

A native of Springfield, Virginia, Abraham holds a BA from Yale College and an MBA with High Distinction from Harvard Business School.