With a Mexican mother, Croatian father and Cleveland, Ohio roots, one could say Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall was born to be a chief of protocol. "Sunday dinners were important, it was like the U.N.," said Ambassador Marshall, the United States Chief of Protocol. "I grew up in an international atmosphere with various cultures and traditions which I enthusiastically embraced." Ambassador Marshall's path to becoming Chief of Protocol was certainly one she never expected or anticipated. While the Office of the Chief of Protocol is housed at the State Department, the mission of the office is to execute the highest standard of international protocol, set the stage for successful diplomacy and use protocol as a medium to facilitate cultural exchange, further mutual understanding and foster international goodwill. Ambassador Marshall's is the first hand welcoming kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers to the United States when they arrive at Andrews Air Force Base and the White House and State Department for bilateral meetings with the president and secretary of state. Ambassador Marshall got her start working for Hillary Clinton while the former first lady and U.S. senator was still the First Lady of Arkansas. Then, Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton was the political star in the Clinton family. "At the time, everyone was focused on Gov. Clinton but I wanted to work for Hillary" said Ambassador Marshall, who took a job working with Hillary Clinton on the 1992 presidential campaign after graduating from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. The choice turned out to be a wise one. Ambassador Marshall later served on the East Wing staff while Clinton was first lady, and still later as the White House social secretary. She remembers the time fondly. "They had such a devotion to one another as a family," Ambassador Marshall said, speaking of President and Mrs. Clinton and their daughter Chelsea. "They really were like the three musketeers. "I remember one year we wanted to celebrate Hillary's birthday so we went to President Clinton and asked if we could surprise her," Marshall said. "We turned all the lights off in the White House and had her drive up the opposite driveway---she didn't suspect a thing." Clinton's party was a costume theme, since her birthday is near Halloween. "We had a Dolly Madison costume set out for her, she went with it too," Marshall said. "Hillary was always so witty and fun---and her laugh---it was just this guffaw that got everyone else laughing too." Now, as U.S. Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Marshall is using her own wit, social skills and vast experience putting events together to further relationships with other countries. "We are the ones setting the stage for diplomacy. We orchestrate everything from flags to seating with respect for unique cultural differences. We go to great effort to make sure every visit proceeds without a hitch - especially State Visits." she said. Strengthening our international partnerships with countries around the world and our relationship with the diplomatic community here in Washington DC is something Ambassador Marshall has made a priority by creating a new division in her office called Diplomatic Partnerships. The division organizes a whole range of events including a recent one to engage the next generation of diplomats. Prior to the State visit by President Hu of China, Ambassador Marshall invited the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. and dozens of children from China and the U.S. to Blair House to cook together and learn about each other's cultures. "It really is terrific to see children experience another culture," she said. Other "Taste of" events have celebrated Indian and Mexican cuisine and culture. Ambassador Marshall has learned that working as chief of protocol involves the patience and understanding of international language. "It's being able to take a moment to listen to what someone has to say," she said. In addition to her parents, Ambassador Marshall credits much of the skills and talents she acquired to her education at all-girls Catholic high school Beaumont School for Girls. "As a young woman, it gave me room to grow," she said. When she's not busy traveling and entertaining foreign dignitaries, Ambassador Marshall enjoys joining her 11-year-old son and husband, a cardiologist, at the Kennedy Center. All three also stay active, skiing and reading and exploring the city whenever they can. "I also really love to cook," Ambassador Marshall said, holding up a bright red burn on her hand. "I made a lemon meringue pie last night and trust me, the burn was worth it." Ambassador Marshall advises young women to keep an eye open for any and all opportunities. "Don't set a specific path for yourself," she said. "There's so much wonderful opportunity in simple conversation."
— By Kate Oczypok
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