Patricia Diaz Dennis

Patricia Diaz Dennis (born October 2, 1946) is an American lawyer who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs from 1992 to 1993.

Patricia Diaz Dennis
Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
In office August 24, 1992 – January 20, 1993
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Richard Schifter
Succeeded by	John Shattuck
Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission
In office 1986–1989
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Henry M. Rivera[1]
Succeeded by	Ervin Duggan[2]
Member of the National Labor Relations Board
In office 1983–1986
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	John Van de Water[3]
Succeeded by	Mary Cracraft[4][5][6]
Personal details
Born	Patricia Diaz[7] (1946-10-02) October 2, 1946 Santa Rita, New Mexico, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Michael Dennis
Education	University of California, Los Angeles (BA) Loyola Marymount University (JD)

Biography

Patricia Diaz Dennis was born in Santa Rita, New Mexico on October 2, 1946[7] , the daughter of Porfirio Madrid Diaz and Mary Romero.[7] She attended the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating with an A.B. in 1970.[7] She then attended Loyola Law School and received a J.D. in 1973.[7]

After law school, she joined Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker as an associate attorney.[7] She practiced there until 1976, when she took an in-house job in the law department of the Pacific Lighting Company.[7] In 1978, she joined the labor law department of the American Broadcasting Company.[7]

In 1983, President of the United States Ronald Reagan appointed Dennis to the National Labor Relations Board.[7] She served there until 1986, when Reagan named her as a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission.[8]

She returned to the private practice of law in 1991, joining Jones Day as a partner.[7] In 1993, she joined Sprint as a vice president.[7]

In 1992, President George H. W. Bush nominated Dennis to be Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs[8] and, after Senate confirmation, Dennis held this position from August 24, 1992 until January 20, 1993.

Upon leaving the United States Department of State, Dennis joined Sullivan & Cromwell as special counsel for telecommunications matters.[9] She joined SBC Communications as a vice president in 1995, and worked there until 2005. In 2015, she was elected to the board of US Steel Corporation.[10]

Long active in the Girl Scouts of the USA, in 2005, Dennis was elected as that organization's chairperson.

References

1. PN951 — Patricia Diaz Dennis — Federal Communications Commission, 99th Congress (1985-1986)
2. PN937 — Ervin S. Duggan — Federal Communications Commission, 101st Congress (1989-1990)
3. PN101 — Patricia Diaz Dennis — National Labor Relations Board, 98th Congress (1983-1984)
4. PN1242-1 — Mary Cracraft — National Labor Relations Board, 99th Congress (1985-1986)
5. PN1242-2 — Mary Cracraft — National Labor Relations Board, 99th Congress (1985-1986)
6. Mary Miller Cracraft
7. FCC Bio
8. Zarkin, Kimberly; Michael J. Zarkin (2006). The Federal Communications Commission: front line in the culture and regulation wars. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-313-33416-0.
9. Patricia Diaz Dennis Executive in Residence - Center for Professional Excellence
10. http://pittsburghurbanmedia.com/Patricia-Diaz-Dennis-and-Robert-J-Stevens-Elected-to-US-Steel-Board-of-Directors/

Government offices
Preceded by Richard Schifter	Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor 1992–1993	Succeeded by John Shattuck