Denis McDonough

Denis McDonough
Official portrait, 2021
Denis McDonough
Born	Denis Richard McDonough 2 12, 1969
Birthplace	Stillwater, Minnesota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Government official
Known for	White House Chief of Staff (2013–2017), U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2021–2025)
Education	St. John's University (BA) Georgetown University (MS)
Spouse(s)	Karin Hillstrom
Children	3

Denis Richard McDonough (born December 2, 1969) is an American government official and public policy figure whose career has placed him at the center of U.S. national security and domestic policy for over two decades. A native of Stillwater, Minnesota, McDonough rose through the ranks of congressional staffing and policy advising to become one of the most trusted aides in the Obama White House, serving first as chief of staff of the National Security Council from 2009 to 2010, then as Deputy National Security Advisor from 2010 to 2013, before being appointed the 26th White House Chief of Staff for the entirety of President Obama's second term from 2013 to 2017. In 2021, President Joe Biden nominated McDonough to serve as the 11th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a role he held until January 20, 2025. Known for his long working hours, attention to operational detail, and deep relationships across the national security establishment, McDonough has been described as a consummate Washington insider who maintained close personal loyalty to the presidents he served.

Early Life

Denis Richard McDonough was born on December 2, 1969, in Stillwater, Minnesota, a small city located on the western bank of the St. Croix River east of the Twin Cities. He grew up in a large Irish-American Catholic family, one of eleven children. McDonough has spoken publicly of being "deeply proud" of his Irish heritage, which shaped much of his upbringing and personal identity.

Growing up in Minnesota, McDonough was active in athletics. He played football at Stillwater Area High School and later continued his athletic pursuits in college. His competitive nature on the playing field would later translate into a reputation for intensity and discipline in the policy world.

McDonough's roots in the upper Midwest and his Catholic upbringing remained important touchstones throughout his career. He would frequently return to Minnesota and maintained ties with his alma mater and community. In June 2025, after leaving government service, McDonough participated in a DFL town hall for veterans in his home state, underscoring his continued connection to Minnesota.

Education

McDonough attended St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, a Catholic liberal arts institution run by the Benedictine monks. He graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. At St. John's, McDonough was a member of the football team, an experience he has cited as formative in developing his work ethic and collaborative instincts.

After completing his undergraduate studies, McDonough pursued graduate education at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a Master of Science degree in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. His graduate training at Georgetown deepened his grounding in international affairs and security policy, setting the stage for his career in government.

In June 2025, it was announced that McDonough would return to the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University as a scholar-in-residence during the 2025–26 academic year, marking a return to the institution where he began his academic journey more than three decades earlier.

Career

Congressional and Early Policy Work

Before entering the executive branch, McDonough spent years working in congressional staffing and policy advisory roles. He served on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and worked as a foreign policy advisor to then-Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota. These positions gave McDonough extensive exposure to the legislative process and to the complexities of American foreign policy during a period that encompassed the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and the early stages of the War on Terror.

McDonough also worked at the Center for American Progress, a progressive policy think tank in Washington, where he focused on national security and foreign policy issues. This work further established his credentials in the national security community and brought him into contact with the network of Democratic policy thinkers who would later form the core of the Obama campaign and administration.

Obama Presidential Campaign

McDonough joined Barack Obama's presidential campaign as a senior foreign policy advisor, becoming one of the earliest and most influential voices shaping the candidate's approach to national security, diplomacy, and defense. His role during the campaign was significant: he helped prepare Obama for debates on foreign policy topics and contributed to the development of the campaign's positions on the Iraq War, Afghanistan, and broader counterterrorism strategy.

McDonough's work on the campaign earned him a reputation as a tireless and detail-oriented operative who combined policy substance with political pragmatism. By the time Obama won the 2008 presidential election, McDonough was firmly established as a member of the president-elect's inner circle.

National Security Council (2009–2013)

Upon taking office in January 2009, President Obama appointed McDonough as the chief of staff of the National Security Council (NSC), where he was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the NSC staff and coordinating the flow of national security information to the president.

In October 2010, Obama elevated McDonough to the position of Deputy National Security Advisor, replacing Thomas E. Donilon, who had been promoted to National Security Advisor. As Deputy National Security Advisor, McDonough played a central role in some of the most consequential national security decisions of the Obama first term. He was involved in deliberations over Afghanistan strategy, the response to the Arab Spring, and the planning that led to the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad in May 2011.

McDonough served as Deputy National Security Advisor until January 20, 2013, when he transitioned to the role of White House Chief of Staff. He was succeeded in the deputy role by Antony Blinken, who would later serve as Secretary of State under President Biden.

White House Chief of Staff (2013–2017)

On January 20, 2013, at the start of President Obama's second term, McDonough was appointed the 26th White House Chief of Staff, succeeding Jack Lew, who had been nominated to serve as Secretary of the Treasury. McDonough was the first person to hold the position for an entire presidential term since Sherman Adams served under President Eisenhower.

As chief of staff, McDonough oversaw the operations of the White House Office, managed the president's schedule and access, and served as one of Obama's closest advisors on both domestic and foreign policy matters. His tenure coincided with a number of significant policy initiatives and challenges, including the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal, the response to the rise of the Islamic State, and the normalization of relations with Cuba.

McDonough was known for his grueling work schedule and hands-on management style. He frequently convened early-morning senior staff meetings and was reported to be among the first to arrive at the White House and the last to leave. His management approach emphasized discipline, loyalty, and tight control over the policy process, qualities that earned him both admiration and occasional criticism from those who found his style overly controlling.

He served in the role until the end of the Obama administration on January 20, 2017, and was succeeded by Reince Priebus, who served as chief of staff under President Donald Trump.

Post-Obama Administration (2017–2021)

After leaving the White House in January 2017, McDonough transitioned to roles in the nonprofit and private sectors. He joined the Markle Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on leveraging technology to address national challenges, including workforce development and digital economy issues.

McDonough also became affiliated with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, one of the oldest and most prominent international affairs think tanks in the United States, where he contributed to discussions on U.S. foreign policy and national security. Additionally, he took on a role at the University of Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs, further maintaining his involvement in policy education and research.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2021–2025)

On December 10, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate McDonough as the 11th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The nomination was notable in part because McDonough did not have a military background, an unusual characteristic for the leader of the department responsible for serving the nation's veterans. Biden's selection was seen as a reflection of his confidence in McDonough's managerial abilities and his experience running large, complex organizations within the executive branch.

McDonough's confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs took place on January 27, 2021. During his opening statement, McDonough emphasized his commitment to addressing the needs of veterans and outlined priorities including improving healthcare delivery, reducing veteran homelessness, and addressing the backlog of disability claims. He was confirmed by the Senate on February 8, 2021, and was sworn in the following day, February 9, 2021.

As Secretary, McDonough led the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the second-largest federal department by number of employees, which provides healthcare, benefits, and memorial services to millions of American veterans and their families. His tenure coincided with the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the veterans healthcare system and the implementation of the PACT Act, landmark legislation that expanded eligibility for benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during military service.

McDonough's leadership at the VA was not without controversy. In May 2024, The American Prospect reported on questions regarding McDonough's handling of an internal report that described an "existential threat" to the agency, with the publication questioning his professed lack of awareness of the report's findings. In July 2024, McDonough visited the Vancouver Medical Center with Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who pressed him on reopening a veterans clinic in Lewis County, Washington.

After leaving office on January 20, 2025, McDonough faced further scrutiny when, in April 2025, the chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee requested the Department of Justice investigate McDonough and other Biden-era VA officials over unspecified concerns. McDonough was succeeded as Secretary of Veterans Affairs by Doug Collins.

Post-Government Activities (2025–present)

Following his departure from the Department of Veterans Affairs, McDonough returned to public engagement and academic pursuits. In June 2025, it was announced that he would serve as scholar-in-residence at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University during the 2025–26 academic year, returning to the institution where he had earned his undergraduate degree more than three decades earlier. The announcement described McDonough as "a former White House Chief of Staff under President Barack Obama and Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Joe Biden."

Also in June 2025, McDonough visited Minnesota to participate in a DFL-organized town hall focused on veterans' issues, maintaining his engagement with the veterans' community and his home state.

Personal Life

Denis McDonough is married to Karin Hillstrom. The couple have three children. McDonough has spoken publicly about his Irish-American heritage and Catholic faith, which have been important aspects of his personal identity throughout his life.

McDonough has maintained ties to his hometown of Stillwater, Minnesota, throughout his career in Washington. He is known as an avid runner and has frequently been described as intensely focused and disciplined in both his personal and professional habits.

After leaving government in 2025, McDonough returned to academic and civic life, dividing his time between policy engagement and his scholar-in-residence position at his alma mater in Minnesota.

Recognition

McDonough's career has been characterized by a series of high-profile appointments that placed him among the most influential figures in two presidential administrations. His appointment as White House Chief of Staff at the start of Obama's second term was covered extensively by national media, with profiles appearing in The New York Times, Foreign Policy, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications.

His appearances and statements have been archived by C-SPAN, reflecting his role as a prominent public figure in American government over more than a decade.

McDonough's selection as scholar-in-residence at St. John's University in 2025 was recognized by the institution as a reflection of the accomplishments of one of its most prominent alumni, with the university highlighting his service at the highest levels of the federal government.

Legacy

Denis McDonough's career in public service spans more than two decades at the intersection of national security, domestic policy, and executive management. As one of Barack Obama's most trusted advisors from the campaign trail through the end of his presidency, McDonough was a central figure in shaping the national security apparatus of the Obama era. His roles as NSC chief of staff, Deputy National Security Advisor, and White House Chief of Staff placed him at the center of decisions ranging from the operation that killed Osama bin Laden to the negotiation of the Iran nuclear agreement.

His appointment as Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Biden represented a transition from national security to domestic governance, tasking him with managing one of the largest and most complex bureaucracies in the federal government. The implementation of the PACT Act during his tenure represented a significant expansion of benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances, a legacy that will affect millions of veterans and their families for years to come.

McDonough's career has also illustrated the role of the political staffer and manager in modern presidential governance. Unlike many cabinet secretaries or senior advisors who come to government with independent political profiles or electoral experience, McDonough built his influence through institutional knowledge, personal relationships, and operational competence. His path from congressional staff to the upper echelons of two presidential administrations reflects a model of public service built on sustained commitment to the policy process rather than public celebrity.