Robert O’Brien – The United States National Security Advisor and US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs

Full Name: Robert Charles O’Brien

Birth Date: 1965

Who is Robert O’Brien?

Robert O’Brien is the United States National Security Advisor and U.S Special Presidential envoy for Hostage Affairs. Furthermore, he is a partner at a Los Angeles based boutique law firm named Larson O’Brien LLP.

Education and Early Career

O’Brien attended Cardinal Newman High School located in Santa Rosa, California. Furthermore, he studied Bachelors in Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1988. He received his J.D. from the UC Berkeley School of Law in 1991. Also, he studied at the University of the Free State in 1987 in South Africa. California Bar admitted him in 1991.

Furthermore, he also served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps as a major of the US Army Reserve. He also served in appointive positions for the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations while in private practice.

Private Practice

O’Brien was the California managing partner of a national law firm, Arent Fox LLP, for seven years. He grew the California offices from 10 attorneys to more than 110 during his time there. Furthermore, he represented Buzz Aldrin in several high-profile cases. He also represented the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in proceedings initiated by ConocoPhillips.

Furthermore, O’Brien was a civilian observer for the Pacific Council on International Policy. It was at the pre-trial hearings for alleged September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The trial happened in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, in June 2014. Also, he served on the International Republican Institute’s delegations. He observed the Republic of Georgia’s 2013 presidential election as well as Ukraine’s 2014 parliamentary election.

O’Brien is a founding partner of the Los Angeles boutique law firm named Larson O’Brien LLP, along with former federal Judge Stephen Larson. They established the firm in January 2016.

Trump Administration

Donald Trump administration kept O’Brien under consideration in 2017 to serve as Secretary of the Navy. Furthermore, The Orange County Register editorial board endorsed O’Brien to serve in this position.

President Trump appointed O’Brien as Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs on the 10th of May, 2018. The government gave him the rank of ambassador after a year. O’Brien became the 28th United States National Security Advisor on the 18th of September, 2019. O’Brien succeeded John R. Bolton. Bolton resigned in early September.

Personal Life of Robert O’Brien

O’Brien is raised as a Catholic. Furthermore, he converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his twenties. He became the highest-ranking Latter-day Saint in the US government.