Jennifer Gavito
Senior Advisor
The Honorable Jennifer Gavito joined The Cohen Group as a Senior Advisor in 2024. Ms. Gavito is an internationally recognized expert on US foreign and national security policy, especially as relates the Middle East and Europe. She is a frequent speaker at major international fora and contributor to international media including CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, and Al Jazeera. As a career Senior Foreign Service officer with the rank of Minister-Counselor, Ms. Gavito spent over 25 years at the intersection of international and economic policy in senior diplomatic positions in Washington and throughout the Middle East and Europe, on the staff of the National Security Council, and as a senior advisor to the Department of Defense. In addition to co-leading The Cohen Group’s Middle East practice, Ms. Gavito advises clients across a variety of sectors including on issues related to geopolitical risk, supply chain disruptions, and global market strategies.
Prior to retiring from government service, Ms. Gavito served as the Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs where she coordinated policy recommendations for the Secretary of State and other senior US government leaders and oversaw the work of 22 diplomatic posts in 18 countries throughout the Middle East. Prior to that, she was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran. She concurrently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Press and Public Diplomacy, leading hundreds of staff in Washington and throughout the Middle East in strategic communications strategy and engagement. Earlier in her career, she was the US Consul General to Munich, serving as the senior US representative to Bavaria. In January 2024, Ms. Gavito was nominated by President Biden to serve as the US Ambassador to Libya.
Ms. Gavito was elected to the American Academy of Diplomacy in 2025 and is a member of the Leadership Council of Women in National Security. She is also a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council. She received the 2024 Presidential Rank Award from President Biden for her extensive contributions to public service and is also the recipient of the Joint Civilian Service Meritorious Commendation Medal from the Department of Defense and a six-time recipient of the State Department’s Superior Honor Award. She speaks fluent German and has Arabic and French language skills.
A graduate of American University, Ms. Gavito is originally from Kansas City, Missouri. but claims Colorado as home. She and her husband Anthony are the proud parents of two teenage boys.