Michael Strautmanis
Deputy Assistant to the President and Counselor for Strategic Engagement to the Senior Advisor
Michael Strautmanis is the Deputy Assistant to the President and Counselor for Strategic Engagement to the Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. In this role, Michael is responsible for coordinating communication and engagement strategies. In addition, he will serve as a senior advisor to the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. Formerly, Michael was the Chief of Staff to the Senior Advisor for the offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Michael has been with the President since his election as the junior U.S. Senator from Illinois, where he served as then-Senator Obama’s Chief Counsel and Deputy Chief of Staff. He continued serving then-Senator Obama on the campaign where he became Senior Counsel for Obama for America, playing a leading role in political outreach as a member of the Congressional Relations team. Upon the President’s election, Michael joined Obama’s presidential transition team as Chief Counsel and the Director of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Prior to his time with the President, Michael practiced complex litigation and employment law in Chicago at Sidley Austin. He then joined the Clinton Administration as Chief of Staff to the General Counsel at the United States Agency for International Development. After his time at USAID, Michael moved to the Hill where he worked for then-Congressman Rod Blagojevich as his Legislative Director.
Michael received a B.S. from the University of Illinois, and a J.D. from the University Of Illinois College Of Law.
