Career Timeline of Morgan Ortagus: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Morgan Ortagus made an impact.

Morgan Ortagus is an American television commentator, financial analyst, and political advisor who served as the spokesperson for the United States Department of State from 2019 to 2021 during the Trump administration. In January 2025, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to appoint her as deputy special presidential envoy for Middle East peace in his second administration, working under Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1996: Volunteered with SADD and MADD

In 1996, after her mentor was killed by a drunk driver, Morgan Ortagus volunteered with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

2006: Worked on K.T. McFarland's Senate Campaign

In 2006, Morgan Ortagus worked as a press secretary on former Deputy National Security Advisor K. T. McFarland's Senate campaign.

2007: Public Affairs Officer at USAID

From 2007 to 2008, Morgan Ortagus worked as a public affairs officer at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), spending several months in Baghdad, Iraq.

2008: Public Affairs Officer at USAID

From 2007 to 2008, Morgan Ortagus worked as a public affairs officer at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), spending several months in Baghdad, Iraq.

2008: Joined U.S. Treasury Department

In 2008, Morgan Ortagus joined the U.S. Treasury Department as an intelligence analyst, focusing on North Africa and the Middle East.

2010: Deputy Treasury Attaché in Saudi Arabia

In 2010, Morgan Ortagus became a deputy Treasury attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, working on countering illicit financial flows.

2011: Returned to the United States

In 2011, Morgan Ortagus returned to the United States after serving as a deputy Treasury attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia since 2010.

2013: Vice President of the Board

In 2013, she was the vice president of the board of the Friends of the Public Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan, based in Washington.

2016: Executive Director at Ernst & Young

In 2016, Morgan Ortagus became an executive director at Ernst & Young (EY), where she helped found EY's Geostrategic Business Group, which focused on geopolitical risk analysis for investors.

2016: Volunteer on Jeb Bush Campaign

In 2016, Morgan Ortagus volunteered on the Jeb Bush presidential campaign.

June 2019: Disagreed with Canada's claim over Northwest Passage

In June 2019, Morgan Ortagus said the United States "views Canada's claim that the waters of the Northwest Passage are internal waters of Canada as inconsistent with international law."

August 2019: Called on Russia to use deconfliction channels

In August 2019, Morgan Ortagus called on the Russian Federation to use deconfliction channels to prevent escalation around the border of the Russian-occupied Georgian region of South Ossetia.

August 2019: Called China a "thuggish regime"

In August 2019, Morgan Ortagus called the Chinese government a "thuggish regime" for harassing a Hong Kong-based American diplomat.

2019: Appointed State Department Spokesperson

In 2019, Morgan Ortagus began serving as the spokesperson for the United States Department of State during the Trump administration.

2019: Returned to government as U.S. State Department Spokesperson

In 2019, Morgan Ortagus returned to government service as the Spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, succeeding Heather Nauert.

January 2020: Called on Iran to allow U.S. participation in investigation

In January 2020, Morgan Ortagus called on Iran to allow the United States to participate in the investigation after Iran shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752.

January 2020: Defended Israel against Iranian threats

In January 2020, Morgan Ortagus defended Israel against Iranian threats after the U.S. killed Iran's Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani.

January 2020: Commented on the killing of Qassem Soleimani

In January 2020, after the U.S. killed Qassem Soleimani, Morgan Ortagus stated, "no one was affected by the brutality and the terrorism of Qassem Soleimani more than the Iranian people themselves."

May 2020: Blamed Russian interference in Syria, Libya, and Yemen

In May 2020, Morgan Ortagus blamed Russian interference in Syria, Libya, and Yemen for exacerbating humanitarian crises and causing the deaths of civilians.

May 2020: Commented on China's national security law in Hong Kong

In May 2020, Morgan Ortagus stated that China was "breaking its word 27 years early" regarding its imposition of a new national security law in Hong Kong and was "taking over the largest financial hub in Asia."

July 2020: Condemned Iranian Judiciary

In July 2020, Morgan Ortagus condemned the Iranian judiciary for its persistent violation of human rights.

July 2020: Blamed political parties for not seeing China

In July 2020, Morgan Ortagus stated that blame rested with both political parties "for almost 40 years for not seeing the Chinese Communist Party for who they really are."

July 2020: Expressed concern over Russian constitutional amendments

In July 2020, Morgan Ortagus stated that the United States was "troubled by reports of Russian government efforts to manipulate the result of the recent votes on constitutional amendments, including reports of voter coercion, pressure on opponents of the amendments, and restrictions of independent observers of the vote."

September 11, 2020: Present for Abraham Accords phone call

On September 11, 2020, Morgan Ortagus was present for the phone call between President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah on which the Abraham Accords was agreed to.

October 2020: Expressed opposition to Turkey's acquisition of S-400 system

In October 2020, Morgan Ortagus said that the United States had expressed its strong opposition to the Government of Turkey's acquisition of the Russian S-400 system.

February 2021: Founding Investor of Rubicon Founders

In February 2021, Morgan Ortagus became a founding investor of Rubicon Founders, a health-care investment firm based in Nashville, Tennessee.

2021: End of tenure as State Department Spokesperson

In 2021, Morgan Ortagus concluded her service as spokesperson for the United States Department of State, which she began in 2019, at the end of the Trump administration.

February 7, 2022: Announced Candidacy for Congress

On February 7, 2022, Morgan Ortagus announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for Tennessee's 5th congressional district.

March 2022: Left Atlantic Council

By March 2022, Morgan Ortagus had left her position as a Senior Advisor for the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council.

2022: Disqualified Congressional Candidate

In 2022, Morgan Ortagus was a candidate for Tennessee's 5th congressional district election, but she was disqualified by the Tennessee Republican Party despite receiving an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

January 3, 2025: Appointed Deputy Special Presidential Envoy

On January 3, 2025, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would appoint Morgan Ortagus to serve as deputy special presidential envoy for Middle East peace, under United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, during his second administration.