The Obama Administration and U.S. Foreign Policy
By Steve Jones, About.com Guide
The President
Barack Obama organized job training programs and voter registration drives in Chicago. He also worked on civil rights issues and taught at the University of Chicago Law School before his election to the Illinois Senate in 1996. President-Elect Obama is widely known for his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and his best-selling biography, Dreams of My Father. He won the U.S. presidential election on November 4, 2008 defeating Senator John McCain (R-AZ).
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Department of State
Once Obama's rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Hillary Clinton became Obama's secretary of state in 2009. As secretary, she directs the activities of the US State Department and American ambassadors around the globe. She is the front-person for all of Obama's foreign policies.
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Department of Defense
Leon Panetta, former head of the CIA, took over the top spot at the Defense Department on July 1, 2011, replacing Robert Gates.
National Security Council
The National Security Council, based in the Executive Office of the White House, helps the president formulate policy for regions and issues around the world.