Mira Ricardel

[5] Ricardel's public service began in 1984, when she was selected for the distinguished Presidential Management Intern Program (now Presidential Management Fellow Program) where she rotated into positions at the Defense Logistics Agency, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and the Office of Senator Pete Wilson (R-CA).[10] During the Bosnian War between 1992 and 1995, her personal knowledge of the languages and cultures involved was credited with improving Dole's understanding of the conflict."[16] Ricardel served as an advisor on defense and foreign policy on Dole's 1996 presidential campaign, when he won the Republican nomination but lost the general election to Bill Clinton.[2] From 2001 to 2003, Ricardel was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense  for Eurasia and was responsible for coalition building between the U.S. and governments in the Caucasus, Central Asian, and Balkans regions.[13][18] The Washington Post reported that "She developed a reputation as a Russia hawk and was seen as a tough bureaucratic player with a strong personality".[4] After leaving the Defense Department, Ricardel spent one year as Vice President of International Business Development for Teachscape, a company that creates educational training and support.[4] Ricardel had blocked some nominees wanted by Mattis because of potential Democratic ties or having supported Hillary Clinton in the past, instead preferring "Republican loyalists.[4] Ricardel's appointment received bipartisan support, including this statement from Arnold L. Punaro, former Staff Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee.Punaro praised Ricardel's inclusive approach, keen intellect, and excellent judgement and expressed confidence in her ability to run the Deputies Committee with shrewdness and dexterity.[41][42][38][43] By mid-November, Ricardel had reportedly been offered nearly a dozen other positions within the Trump administration, including the post of United States Ambassador to Estonia, which she refused.[47][non-primary source needed] While at the Fletcher School, she met Robert Baratta, who has been involved in aspects of Virginia politics and the federal government.
Then known as Mira Baratta, in a defense-related meeting in 2001
Under Secretary Ricardel (front, right of center) at the USA Partnership Pavilion ribbon cutting at the Singapore Airshow in February 2018
United States Deputy National Security AdvisorDonald TrumpRicky L. WaddellCharles KuppermanUnder Secretary of Commerce for Industry and SecurityAlan EstevezMilwaukee, WisconsinRepublicanGeorgetown UniversityTufts UniversityAustralian Securities ExchangeDeputy National Security AdvisorFirst LadyMelania Trumpfirst Trump administrationOffice of Presidential PersonnelUnder Secretary of Commerce for Export AdministrationU.S. SenatorBob DoleU.S. Department of DefenseCroatian descentBreza, Bosnia and HerzegovinaBleiburg repatriationsZagreb UniversityYugoslaviaHeidelbergUnited StatesPasadena, CaliforniaCroatian languagesSt Anthony's Croatian Catholic ChurchBachelor of Science (B.S.) in Foreign ServiceDelta Phi Epsilon professional foreign service sororityFletcher School of Law and DiplomacyReagan RepublicanArms Control and Disarmament AgencySenate Republican leaderWeekly StandardBosnian WarSlobodan Milosevic1996 presidential campaignBill ClintonFreedom HouseNew York CityMonica LewinskyEurasiaCaucasusCentral AsianBalkansU.S. Secretary of DefenseEuropenuclear forcesmissile defensearms controlThe Washington PostBoeing CompanyAlexandria, Virginia2016 presidential transition teamJames MattisMargaret PeterlinHillary ClintonU.S. Department of CommerceSenateCommittee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairsconfirmed by the entire U.S. SenateNational Security AdvisorJohn R. BoltonArnold L. PunaroWilbur RossAlexander HamiltonFederalist No. 70Bloomberg NewsUnited States Ambassador to EstoniaMichael ChertoffDepartment of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public ServiceCouncil on Foreign RelationsJeane KirkpatrickNational Endowment for the HumanitiesJosh Roginwhitehouse.govNational ArchivesAmerican Foreign Policy CouncilNewsweekPoliticoThe HillTwitterFinancial TimesThe Wall Street JournalReutersWayback Machine