The assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor is the head of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor within the United States Department of State. The assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor reports to the under secretary foreign assistance, humanitarian affairs and religious freedom.
List of Assistant Secretaries of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, 1976 — 1993
#NameAssumed officeLeft officePresident served under1James M. Wilson, Jr.November 29, 1976April 28, 1977Gerald Ford2Patricia M. DerianAugust 17, 1977January 19, 1981Jimmy Carter3Elliott AbramsDecember 12, 1981July 17, 1985Ronald Reagan4Richard SchifterOctober 31, 1985April 3, 1992Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush5Patricia Diaz DennisAugust 24, 1992January 20, 1993George H. W. Bush
While Ernest W. Lefever was nominated for the office by Reagan in 1981, his nomination was rejected by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and he withdrew from consideration.
List of Assistant Secretaries of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, 1993 — Present
#NameAssumed officeLeft officePresident served under6John ShattuckJune 2, 1993November 13, 1998Bill Clinton7Harold Hongju KohNovember 13, 1998January 20, 20018Lorne CranerJune 4, 2001July 31, 2004George W. Bush9Barry LowenkronOctober 14, 2005August 28, 200710David J. KramerMarch 21, 2008January 20, 200911Michael H. PosnerSeptember 23, 2009March 8, 2013Barack Obama -Uzra Zeya (acting)March 8, 2013April 3, 201412Tom MalinowskiApril 3, 2014January 20, 2017 -Virginia Bennett (acting)January 20, 2017November 30, 2017Donald Trump -Michael Kozak (Senior Bureau Official)November 30, 2017September 12, 201913Robert DestroSeptember 23, 2019January 20, 2021 -Lisa J. Peterson (acting)January 20, 2021September 6, 2022 Joe Biden -Erin M. Barclay (acting)September 6, 2022January 21, 2024 -Robert S. Gilchrist (Senior Bureau Official)January 21, 2024 August 8, 2024 14Dafna Hochman RandAugust 8, 2024 January 20, 2025 -Jonathan Mennuti (acting)January 20, 2025February 10, 2025 Donald Trump -Riley M. Barnes (Senior Bureau Official)February 10, 2025June 17, 2025 -Jacob A. McGee (Senior Bureau Official)June 17, 2025October 10, 202515Riley M. BarnesOctober 10, 2025Present
References
External links History of Assistant Secretaries of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor from the State Department Historian Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Website