John Barsa

John Barsa is an American businessman and government official and political candidate serving as the Acting Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. Barsa was nominated to the role in April 2020 after the resignation of Mark Andrew Green.

John Barsa
Acting Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
Assumed office
April 13, 2020
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyBonnie Glick
Preceded byMark Andrew Green
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Lisa Piraneo
Children2
Alma materFlorida International University (BA)
Syracuse University (GrDip)
Military service
Branch/service United States Army

Early life and education

The son of Cuban refugees, Barsa was raised in Miami, Florida. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from Florida International University and a graduate diploma from the Syracuse University National Security Management Fellows Program at Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Career

Barsa began his career working in the private defense sector. Barsa then joined the United States Army Reserve and served on the staff of U.S. Representative Lincoln Díaz-Balart. During the George W. Bush Administration, Barsa worked as a legislative affairs specialist at NASA. After the United States Department of Homeland Security was established, Barsa was selected to serve as the founding director of the department's Office of Public Liaison. Barsa then founded Barsa Strategies, a defense lobbying firm. In 2011, Barsa was a Republican candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates, losing to incumbent Democrat Scott Surovell.[1][2][3]

Barsa served on the Donald Trump transition team and later served as an assistant to then-DHS director John F. Kelly. Barsa also coordinated relief efforts with the Federal Emergency Management Agency after Hurricane Irma. Barsa was later transferred to the United States Agency for International Development to serve as Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean. He was selected to serve as acting administrator after the resignation of Mark Andrew Green.[4]

Personal life

Barsa is married to Lisa Piraneo Barsa, a lobbyist for ACT! for America. The couple have two children. In 2019, Piraneo's relationship with Barsa was scrutinized after an ACT! for America poster featuring Congresswoman Ilhan Omar superimposed over a picture of the Twin Towers falling was hung in the West Virginia House of Delegates.[5][6][7]

References
  1. "John Barsa". www.usaid.gov. 2020-04-13. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  2. "Republican John Barsa Gunning for 44th House District". Greater Alexandria, VA Patch. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  3. June 3; English, 2020Click to read this article in SpanishClick to read this article in (2020-06-03). "On Trump's Latin America team: Michael Pack's nomination to run VOA heads to the Senate". Global Americans. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  4. Vella, Lauren (2020-03-17). "Trump designates new acting head of USAID". TheHill. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  5. Inc, The Young Turks. "Group Behind Ilhan Omar 9/11 Poster Tied to Trump Nominee". TYT Network. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  6. Relman, Eliza. "Rep. Ilhan Omar's comments about Israel are consuming Congress with Trump, Pelosi, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez all taking sides". Business Insider. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  7. "ACT for America Tries To Distance Themselves From One of Their 'Most Influential Activists'". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
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