Jacob Jeremiah Sullivan is an accomplished American attorney with a distinguished career in government and foreign policy. Currently serving as the United States National Security Advisor to President Joe Biden, Sullivan possesses extensive experience in high-level positions. Notably, he served as Director of Policy to President Barack Obama, National Security Advisor to then Vice President Biden, and Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary Hillary Clinton at the U.S. Department of State. His expertise extends to international relations, having played key roles in the Iran nuclear negotiations and Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. Sullivan's credentials also include academic experience as a visiting professor at Yale Law School.
November 28, 1976: Birth of Jake Sullivan
Jake Sullivan was born on November 28, 1976 in Burlington, Vermont.
1994: Graduation from Southwest High School
Jake Sullivan graduates from Southwest High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1994.
1998: Graduation from Yale University
Jake Sullivan graduates summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1998.
2003: Graduation from Yale Law School
Jake Sullivan earns a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School in 2003.
2008: Advisor to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama
In 2008, Jake Sullivan serves as an advisor to Hillary Clinton during her presidential primary campaign and later to Barack Obama during the general election campaign.
February 2013: Becomes Top Security Aide to Vice President Biden
Following Hillary Clinton's departure as Secretary of State, Jake Sullivan becomes Vice President Joe Biden's top security aide in February 2013.
November 2013: Secret Meetings with Iranian Officials
The Associated Press reports that Obama administration officials, including Jake Sullivan, have been secretly meeting with Iranian officials throughout 2013 to discuss the Iranian nuclear program.
November 24, 2013: Signing of Geneva Interim Agreement
The Geneva interim agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, officially known as the Joint Plan of Action, is signed by Iran and the P5+1 countries in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 24, 2013.
June 20, 2014: Announcement to Leave Obama Administration
On June 20, 2014, The New York Times reports that Jake Sullivan will leave the Obama administration in August 2014 to teach at Yale Law School.
August 2014: Leaves Obama Administration
Jake Sullivan leaves the Obama Administration to teach at Yale Law School in August 2014.
2016: Expresses Responsibility for Clinton's Defeat
Following Hillary Clinton's loss in the 2016 presidential election, Jake Sullivan expresses a "keen sense of responsibility" for the defeat.
2016: Senior Policy Advisor for Hillary Clinton's Presidential Campaign
In 2016, Jake Sullivan served as the chief foreign policy advisor for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.
January 2017: Joins Macro Advisory Partners
Jake Sullivan joins Macro Advisory Partners, a risk advisory firm, in January 2017.
2017: Joins Microsoft Advisory Council
Jake Sullivan joins Microsoft's advisory council in 2017.
May 2020: Ends Tenure on Microsoft Advisory Council
Jake Sullivan's tenure on an advisory council for Microsoft ends in May 2020.
November 22, 2020: Announced as Biden's National Security Advisor
Jake Sullivan is announced as President-elect Joe Biden's choice for National Security Advisor on November 22, 2020.
November 23, 2020: Appointment as National Security Advisor
On November 23, 2020, Jake Sullivan was announced as President-elect Joe Biden's choice for National Security Advisor.
2020: Nonresident Senior Fellow at Carnegie Endowment
As of 2020, Jake Sullivan is a nonresident senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
January 2021: Oversees Government Response to Cyberattack
Jake Sullivan oversees the U.S. government's response to the January 2021 cyberattack on Microsoft, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to his prior role on Microsoft's advisory council.
January 20, 2021: Assumes Office as National Security Advisor
Jake Sullivan assumed the role of United States National Security Advisor on January 20, 2021.
September 28, 2021: Meeting with Saudi Crown Prince
Jake Sullivan meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on September 28, 2021, to discuss the global energy crisis, the situation in Yemen, and potential normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
October 6, 2021: High-Level Meeting with Chinese Diplomat
On October 6, 2021, Jake Sullivan holds a high-level meeting with top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi in Zürich, Switzerland, to discuss various aspects of Chinese-American relations.
October 25, 2021: Briefing on Iran's Nuclear Program
Pentagon officials brief Jake Sullivan on military options regarding Iran's nuclear program on October 25, 2021.
November 7, 2021: US No Longer Seeks System Change in China
On November 7, 2021, Jake Sullivan, in a significant policy shift, stated that the US was no longer seeking to change China's system, moving away from the approach of previous administrations and aiming for peaceful coexistence.
February 11, 2022: Sullivan Issues Warning of Imminent Russian Invasion of Ukraine
On February 11, 2022, Jake Sullivan publicly warned about the high likelihood of a Russian invasion of Ukraine before the conclusion of the 2022 Winter Olympics, urging American citizens to evacuate Ukraine immediately and cautioned about the potential absence of a US military evacuation once an invasion began.
March 13, 2022: Sullivan Warns of NATO Response, Advises Zelenskyy on Crimea
On March 13, 2022, Jake Sullivan cautioned Russia about a comprehensive NATO response if Russia attacked any NATO member. He reportedly advised Ukrainian President Zelenskyy against attempting to recapture Crimea or attacking the Crimean Bridge due to concerns over potential Russian nuclear retaliation.
March 24, 2022: Lawsuit Filed by Donald Trump
Former President Donald Trump files a lawsuit against several individuals, including Hillary Clinton and Jake Sullivan, alleging a conspiracy related to the Russian collusion scandal on March 24, 2022.
September 8, 2022: Dismissal of Trump's Lawsuit
The lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against Hillary Clinton, Jake Sullivan, and others is dismissed on September 8, 2022.
January 19, 2023: Sanctions Imposed on Trump and Lawyer
On January 19, 2023, a federal judge imposes nearly $1 million in sanctions on former President Donald Trump and his lawyer, Alina Habba, in connection to the dismissed lawsuit.
April 2023: Security Breach at Sullivan's Residence
In late April 2023, an unidentified man reportedly gained access to Jake Sullivan's West End home around 3 a.m. but left before Secret Service agents were alerted. Sullivan discovered the intrusion as he was still awake and working.
July 6, 2023: Biden Authorizes Cluster Munitions for Ukraine, Sullivan Defends Decision
On July 6, 2023, President Biden authorized the provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine for their counteroffensive against Russian forces, overriding US law prohibiting the transfer of certain types of cluster munitions. Jake Sullivan defended the decision.
October 2, 2023: Sullivan's Article on De-escalation in Gaza Published Before Hamas Attack
On October 2, 2023, an article by Jake Sullivan in Foreign Affairs, in which he stated that the Biden administration had "de-escalated crises in Gaza," was published. Five days later, Hamas launched a major attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
October 15, 2023: Sullivan Discusses Israel-Palestine Conflict with CNN's Tapper
On October 15, 2023, CNN's Jake Tapper interviewed Jake Sullivan, raising questions about Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. Sullivan maintained that the US was collaborating with Israel to ensure the well-being and protection of innocent Palestinians.
October 29, 2023: Sullivan Rejects Ceasefire Calls, Defends Israel's Right to Defend Itself
On October 29, 2023, Jake Sullivan dismissed calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, arguing that a "humanitarian pause" could benefit Hamas. He refrained from commenting on allegations of Israeli war crimes and the potential return of Gazans to their homes.
December 2023: "The Sources of American Power" Published in Foreign Affairs
In the November-December 2023 issue of Foreign Affairs, Jake Sullivan's article titled "The Sources of American Power" was featured as the cover story, outlining his perspective on the subject.
January 2024: Biden Administration Rejects Putin's Ceasefire Proposal Without Ukraine's Involvement
In January 2024, the Biden administration rejected a ceasefire proposal from Vladimir Putin regarding the conflict in Ukraine. Jake Sullivan conveyed to Putin's foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, that the US would not engage in ceasefire discussions without Ukraine's participation.