Cam Henderson (diplomat)

Henderson was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and graduated from American University. At the beginning of her career, she worked for President George W. Bush in the White House Presidential Personnel Office, on Bush's re-election campaign in 2004, and at the Republican National Committee.[1]

From 2010 to 2012, Henderson served as New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie's chief of staff and director of protocol. In 2013, she became the executive director of the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, which was created by Christie's wife.[1]

Henderson went on to serve as former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's finance director during his presidential campaign in 2016. Christie lost the campaign to Donald Trump, who won the election. After Trump's inauguration, she joined his administration as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Presidential Personnel Office.[1]

Henderson joined the U.S. State Department in mid-2017 as Deputy Chief of Protocol under Sean Lawler. On June 24, 2019, Lawler was suspended indefinitely as a result of an investigation into his conduct, and Mary-Kate Fisher took over as Acting Chief of Protocol.[2]

On August 12, 2019, Henderson took office as Chief of Protocol of the United States.[1] As part of her work, Henderson leads the Office of Protocol at the U.S. State Department to welcome visiting dignitaries to the United States. She also travels with the president to facilitate foreign trips.

In February 2020, her appointment was submitted to the U.S. Senate for confirmation and a promotion to the rank of Ambassador. In March 2020, the request for confirmation and promotion was withdrawn[3] and replaced by a request for promotion only. On January 3, 2021, her nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.[4]

In October 2020, it was widely reported in the media that Henderson was letting alcohol interfere with her ability to perform her role.[5]