Antony Blinken
Served as deputy secretary of state under former President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2015. Prior to that, he served as principal deputy national security adviser to Obama and as then-Vice President Joe Biden’s national security adviser.
Alejandro Mayorkas
The first Latino and immigrant to be nominated to serve as Homeland Security secretary, Mayorkas served as deputy secretary for Homeland Security from 2013 to 2016. Prior to that, he served as director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services from 2009 to 2013.
Avril Haines
She would become the first woman to hold this role should she be confirmed. Haines served as Obama’s principal deputy national security adviser from 2015 to 2017. From 2013 to 2015, she served as deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency. She was the first woman to hold both roles.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield
A 35-year diplomat, Thomas-Greenfield is coming out of retirement to serve as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. She served as assistant secretary of state for African affairs from 2013 to 2017 and, prior to that, was U.S. ambassador to Liberia.