I have known and worked with Tony Blinken for more than twenty years now, and I am pleased that if confirmed he will return to the State Department, where he began his career in government in 1993, as Deputy Secretary of State. Since his time as Special Assistant in the Bureau of European Affairs and throughout his career, Tony has worked closely with Foreign Service Officers, members of the Civil Service, and political appointees at the State Department at every level. Diplomatic service is in Tony's blood, with his father, uncle, and his wife all having served at State during their careers. He comes home to the State Department knowing and appreciating the deep expertise that the Department brings to bear in shaping our foreign policy.

I worked particularly closely with Tony when I was Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and of course during the last two years together on the President's national security team. He brings with him a tremendous breadth and depth of experience in our government's foreign policy institutions, from the State Department to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the Office of the Vice President to the National Security Council. As Deputy National Security Advisor, Tony has strengthened connections across the interagency community to forge consensus on a broad range of challenging policy issues.

His rare combination of deep policy expertise, impeccable judgment, and an inclusive leadership style will make him an exceptional leader and manager in the Department. His colleagues across the government appreciate his genuine human decency and sense of humor, even in the most stressful of circumstances.

His experience working on Iran nuclear negotiations, focusing on Iraq and Syria, partnering on Ukraine, planning our new relationship with Afghanistan, and helping build the rebalance to Asia will all be vital to his role as Deputy Secretary right by my side.