Raymond P. Martinez
Acting U.S. Chief of Protocol
U.S. Department of State

Raymond P. Martinez was sworn in as Deputy Chief of Protocol of the United States on December 12, 2005. As Deputy Chief, Mr. Martinez serves as the chief operating officer of the Office of the Chief of Protocol, as well as Acting Chief of Protocol in the absence of the Chief.

In this role, Mr. Martinez oversees the visits of chiefs of state, heads of government and other international dignitaries who are in the United States to meet with the President, Vice President or Secretary of State. He also accompanies delegations representing the President at official ceremonies abroad.

Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Martinez served as New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles under Governor George Pataki from December 2000 to December 2005; as Assistant General Counsel to the Long Island (New York) Power Authority; as Special Counsel and Deputy Chief of Staff for the New York State Attorney General; and as an attorney in private practice.

From 1989 through 2005, Mr. Martinez served on numerous White House advance teams for domestic and international trips of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. In President Ronald Reagan’s administration, he was Deputy Director for Scheduling and Advance at the White House for First Lady Nancy Reagan and also served as a Special Assistant at the New York Regional Office of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Previously, Mr. Martinez worked as a Legislative Aide for the New York State Senate.

Mr. Martinez is a graduate of St. John’s University School of Law and C.W. Post College of Long Island University.