Office of the Chief of Protocol

Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Donald Ensenat, introduces the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Tonga and her daughter to President Bush in the Oval Office during a credentialing ceremony at the White House. [White House photo by Eric Draper.] In addition to serving as the President's personal representative to the Chiefs of Diplomatic Missions in Washington, the Chief of Protocol is responsible for arranging the visits of foreign chiefs of state and heads of government meeting with the President, Vice President and Secretary of State, as well as accompanying the President on official visits overseas.

Whether rolling out the red carpet for a King visiting the President at the White House, hosting a Prime Minister at the President's guesthouse, traveling overseas with the President, credentialing a new foreign Ambassador, or planning events for the Secretary of State, the duties of the Office of the Chief of Protocol are many and varied.

Since the time of the Egyptian pharaohs, there have been government officials in charge of diplomatic conduct. Today, more than 3,000 years later, it is the Office of the Chief of Protocol that advises, assists, and supports the President of the United States, the Vice President, and the Secretary of State on official matters of national and international protocol, ensuring that the accepted rules of conduct in every capital of the world are implemented.

Under the direction of the Chief of Protocol, Donald Burnham Ensenat, and the Deputy Chief of Protocol, Raymond P. Martinez, the office is responsible for activities including the planning, hosting, and officiating of ceremonial events for visiting chiefs of state and heads of government, as well as coordinating logistics for the visits; managing Blair House, the President's guesthouse; and overseeing all protocol matters for Presidential or Vice Presidential travel abroad, working alongside the White House.

Read more about what the Office of the Chief of Protocol does.