Frank Lavin

Frank Lavin
Lavin in 1987
United States Ambassador to Singapore
In office
September 10, 2001 – October 11, 2005
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded bySteven Green
Succeeded byPatricia Herbold
White House Director of Political Affairs
In office
March 16, 1987 – January 20, 1989
Serving with Frank Donatelli
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byHaley Barbour
Succeeded byJames Wray
Personal details
Born (1957-10-26) October 26, 1957 (age 67)
Canton, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationGeorgetown University (BS, MS)
Johns Hopkins University (MA)
University of Pennsylvania (MBA)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
RankLieutenant Commander
UnitUnited States Navy Reserve

Franklin L. Lavin (born October 26, 1957) is a former Republican White House aide who was the political director for Ronald Reagan between 1987 and 1989, a United States diplomat, U.S. naval officer, and a bank executive.[1]

Early life and education

Lavin is from Ohio and graduated from Phillips Academy Andover in 1975.[2] He later earned a B.S. from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University; a M.S. in Chinese language from Georgetown University; a M.A. in International Relations and International Economics from the School of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University; and a MBA in Finance at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.[3]

Career

As Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Lavin headed the International Trade Administration for the United States Department of Commerce from 2005 until 2007.[4][5]

Lavin in 2005

From August 2001 to 2005, Lavin served as the United States Ambassador to Singapore.[3]

As of September 2001, Lavin is an officer in the United States Navy's reserve.[6]

A 2005 report by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of State praised Lavin's leadership in this position, calling him "a strong leader with a high degree of intellectual curiosity who wants to be kept well-briefed by all agencies, and yet lets people do their jobs without micromanaging".[7]

From 2011 t0 2023, Lavin served as CEO of Export Now,[8] a company dedicated to helping consumer brands sell their products in China.[9]

In August 2016, Lavin endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.[10][11]

In 2020, Lavin, along with over 130 other former Republican national security officials, signed a statement that asserted that President Trump was unfit to serve another term, and "To that end, we are firmly convinced that it is in the best interest of our nation that Vice President Joe Biden be elected as the next President of the United States, and we will vote for him."[12]

Personal life

Frank Lavin and his wife Ann (née Wortley) have been married since November 29, 1980.[13] They have three children. His father was a soldier in World War II.[11]

Selected publications

  • Lavin, Frank, and Henry Kissinger. Home Front to Battlefront: An Ohio Teenager in World War II. Athens, OH: Ohio University Press, 2017. ISBN 9780821445921

References

  1. ^ Authorities, Leading. "Frank Lavin". www.leadingauthorities.com.
  2. ^ "An epic American life". Andover | An independent and inclusive coed boarding high school. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  3. ^ a b Biography. "Franklin L. Lavin, Undersecretary for International Trade". ITA.gov. Archived from the original on 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  4. ^ United States Department of Commerce press release (October 28, 2005). "Gutierrez lauds Senate for voting to confirm Franklin L. Lavin as Under Secretary for International Trade". ITA.doc.gov. Archived from the original on September 27, 2006. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
  5. ^ Newsweek Press Release (12 August 2007). "International Cover: Global Education: The Race is On". Earth Times.
  6. ^ "Lavin, Frank L." United States Department of State. September 5, 2001. Archived from the original on February 6, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  7. ^ Report of Inspection: Embassy Singapore (PDF) (Report). Office of the Inspector General of the Department of State. 2005. p. 8. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  8. ^ "Home". Export Now.
  9. ^ Grossmann, John (17 September 2014). "When Plan to Help Others Sell in China Fails, a Start-Up Changes Tack". The New York Times.
  10. ^ Frank Lavin (7 August 2016). "Reagan Republican: Trump is the emperor with no clothes". CNN.
  11. ^ a b Murphy, Mike (February 19, 2019) "Amazon Crime, Art of the Surrender and Globe Trotting with Amb. Frank Lavin", Radio Free GOP With Mike Murphy
  12. ^ "Former Republican National Security Officials for Biden". Defending Democracy Together. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  13. ^ John Gizzi (14 August 2007). "Remembering Rove". Human Events. Archived from the original on 15 August 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2007.

Political Service

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Frank Lavin.
Political offices
Preceded by White House Director of Political Affairs
1987–1989
Served alongside: Frank Donatelli (Political and Intergovernmental Affairs) 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Singapore
2001–2005 		Succeeded by