Exploring the World of Public Policy
Speaking Engagements
Public Policy
Fernando worked as a senior U.S. government official for over 10 years across two very different administrations (Obama and Trump). He is the only person to have worked in the West Wing of both of those Presidents. He has an extremely unique perspective to share on the U.S. government and U.S. Presidents
National Security
As Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere at the White House National Security Council, Fernando ran the U.S. government’s policy on Latin America and Canada. He spoke with Heads of State and Ambassadors to advance U.S. interests, while coordinating efforts across the U.S. government. Fernando also served as Chief of Mission for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Latin America and as an advisor during the Colombian government’s negotiations with the FARC.
Latin American Policy
Fernando served as Senior Advisor to the National Security Advisor and to the Deputy National Security Advisor across administrations. He worked on topics as diverse as China, Iran, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, Syria, Afghanistan, counterterrorism, nuclear nonproliferation, cyber security, and trade.
See more of Fernando’s Experience Here
Get to know Fernando
Fernando has served at the White House as Senior Advisor to National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster. He also served as the Director for South America and acting Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the White House National Security Council under both President Obama and President Trump. He served as Special Advisor for President Obama's trip to Cuba in 2016. Fernando previously worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as Senior Advisor to the Administrator, in Colombia as Special Advisor to the Colombian Peace Process with the FARC, and in Guyana as Chief of Mission for USAID. Fernando graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in the Class of 2010, and with his Master’s from the Clinton School of Public Service in the Class of 2012.
Fernando is now a nationally established speaker and author based in Miami, Florida. He has written nearly a dozen OpEds in newspapers such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Miami Herald, and Americas Quarterly. He has been quoted hundreds of times in top newspapers around the world and in numerous books. And he has spoken extensively at Universities around the world, including West Point, Washington University in St. Louis, Georgetown, University of Virginia, The Rodel Institute, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Arkansas. Fernando has also spoken at conferences held by financial institutions such as J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley.
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