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]
Frank Lavin | |
|---|---|
 Lavin in 1987 | |
| United States Ambassador to Singapore | |
| In office September 10, 2001 – October 11, 2005 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Steven Green |
| Succeeded by | Patricia Herbold |
| White House Director of Political Affairs | |
| In office March 16, 1987 – January 20, 1989 Serving with Frank Donatelli | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Haley Barbour |
| Succeeded by | James Wray |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 26, 1957 Canton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Georgetown University (BS, MS) Johns Hopkins University (MA) University of Pennsylvania (MBA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Rank | Lieutenant Commander |
| Unit | United States Navy Reserve |
Early life and education
editLavin 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
editAs 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]
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
editFrank 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
edit- 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
edit- ^ Authorities, Leading. "Frank Lavin". www.leadingauthorities.com.
- ^ "An epic American life". Andover | An independent and inclusive coed boarding high school. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ a b Biography. "Franklin L. Lavin, Undersecretary for International Trade". ITA.gov. Archived from the original on 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Newsweek Press Release (12 August 2007). "International Cover: Global Education: The Race is On". Earth Times.
- ^ "Lavin, Frank L." United States Department of State. September 5, 2001. Archived from the original on February 6, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
- ^ Report of Inspection: Embassy Singapore (PDF) (Report). Office of the Inspector General of the Department of State. 2005. p. 8. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
- ^ "Home". Export Now.
- ^ Grossmann, John (17 September 2014). "When Plan to Help Others Sell in China Fails, a Start-Up Changes Tack". The New York Times.
- ^ Frank Lavin (7 August 2016). "Reagan Republican: Trump is the emperor with no clothes". CNN.
- ^ 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
- ^ "Former Republican National Security Officials for Biden". Defending Democracy Together. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ^ John Gizzi (14 August 2007). "Remembering Rove". Human Events. Archived from the original on 15 August 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
Political Service
edit