Brian K. Bond, Deputy Director, Office of Public Engagement
While many of us show up to work in cubicles tucked within bland office buildings, a chosen group of talented men and women spend long hours toiling for a singularly high-profile boss: the president. They work to enact policy changes and strengthen the bond between the president and the people. They document the world in pictures and help the administration operate like a tightly run ship. They seem perpetually tied to their BlackBerries. And no matter whether they work for a Republican or Democrat, the people employed by the president of the United States share at least one thing in common: A serious commitment to serving the American people. Here, a small selection of some of the bright minds who are currently working for President Barack Obama—what brought them to the White House, their roles, their expectations and their experiences.
BRIAN K. BOND
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
What is your role at the White House?
I am one of two deputy directors for the White House Office of Public Engagement (OPE). The Office of Public Engagement is basically the front door to the White House. We coordinate opportunities for a two-way dialogue between the administration and the American public. I perform two functions as deputy director of OPE: one is to help manage a portion of the OPE staff, and the other role is to serve as the point person on LGBT issues and outreach.
What led you to your current position?
My faith has taught me that one of our primary responsibilities on this Earth is to give back and make life better for others. I believe that public engagement and advocacy provide unique opportunities to fulfill those responsibilities. I have worked for numerous non-profits and campaigns and been extremely involved in LGBT advocacy efforts.
Who is the most interesting/memorable person you have encountered in the White House so far?
This is not an easy question to answer. There are many incredible people who come through the building, whether it be wounded warriors who have given so much of themselves for us to brave children who are battling a life-threatening illness and whose one wish is to meet the president to outstanding athletes and civil rights trailblazers like Billie Jean King.
How do you think the public’s perception of life in the White House differs from the reality?
I am not sure what the public’s perception of life in the White House really is. I would want to assure people that there are amazing people here—from the appointees to the career staff who come to work every day wanting to make this country a better place. People don’t have to agree with everything we are doing—but the intentions are important. And I am honored to be working with really incredible and smart people who want to serve this country to their best potential. I know that sounds a little corny, but it is true.
What would you describe as “a normal day” in the White House?
That is a good one—there is no such thing as a normal day in the White House, especially for an office like OPE. We are constantly in motion, meetings, gathering or disseminating information to a broad array of stakeholders on any number of issues every day.
How tough or easy-going a boss is Barack Obama?
From the president on down through the senior staff to everyone that has been appointed in this administration, for me there is a constant theme. We work hard, but no one works harder than this president, and he expects us to do our share. I believe we owe it to him and the people who got us here, and indeed all Americans to do our very best, work as diligently as we can to make things better for Americans.
What has surprised you the most working for this president?
I wouldn’t say I am surprised by anything. From my personal interactions with the president, I can tell you he is a thoughtful and decisive decision maker.
How have you seen the culture in the White House evolve in the past year?
I wouldn’t say the “culture” has changed or evolved from a work perspective. The president has instilled an ethos of teamwork and camaraderie that is constant and pretty amazing in such a high-stakes and high-pressure environment.
Who among the bosses, chiefs and managers is the most vocal or visible?
I work directly for two extremely amazing leaders and public servants—and I am not just saying that because I work for them, I wanted to work for them. White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, who oversees all aspects of White House Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, brings an incredible depth of experience, savvy and knowledge to the table. I report directly to Tina Tchen, the director of the Office of Public Engagement, who is a tireless proponent for inclusion and someone who is able to juggle multiple challenging issues at once with a sense of grace and poise. I also work closely with Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina, who in my opinion has one of the most stressful and demanding jobs in the White House. Despite those demands and his intense schedule, his door is always open and even during the most tense of moments, he will greet you with respect and a sense of humor, and is always able to help iron out a solution to a problem.
What has been your most interesting or compelling White House experience so far?
Two come to mind, and both are about the future of this country. In February, a young teenager from Dillon, South Carolina, touched many of us here at the White House and people across the country with her letter to public officials pleading for her school to receive the resources it needs to allow her and her fellow students to learn. The president asked her to sit in his box during his joint address to Congress last year. Another example would be meeting the families of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., and watching them as the president handed them pens from the signing of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act last fall after a decade of waiting for the bill’s passage. Those are just a few of the heroic people I have encountered while working here at the White House.
Was the TV show The West Wing a good primer for working at the White House, or was it a source of gross misinformation?
Hah, I honestly didn’t watch The West Wing, I was too big a dork watching the news programs like CNN and MSNBC.
How palpable is the sense of history for you when, say, you poke your head into the Oval Office or the Roosevelt Room?
There is a sense of responsibility and commitment every day when you walk into the White House complex. A responsibility to the president and the senior staff to do your very best, and a responsibility to the American public to ensure that whatever you are working on is done correctly and is done so with the best interest of all involved.
Have you felt the presence—literal or otherwise—of the ghosts of presidents past?
When you walk through the White House, it is hard not to think for a second or two every time, ‘Wow, this is where President Lincoln, President Truman and President Kennedy worked.’
What is your favorite spot in the White House? A place that either gives you pause, or where you like to go to get 5 minutes alone?
As someone who grew up in rural Missouri, I am still both in awe and honored to be working here and working for this president. There is no single place that gives me pause; the experience as a whole and the opportunity given to me by President Obama constantly makes me reflect on how incredible it is to be working here, and I reflect on that a lot.
What sort of presence does Michelle Obama bring to the mansion?
The first lady is truly an amazing role model. Nothing more needs to be said.
How many hours a day do you find yourself having to work?
There is no such thing as a “time clock” here at the White House.
What do you do to try to achieve balance in your life—to escape the White House bubble?
That is a very challenging question. We try to carve out a little time for our friends and family, that is so important, but it can be challenging—especially if you don’t find a way to put your BlackBerry away once in a while. In my case, I actually try to make sure I spend quality time with my partner. That usually means not leaving the house and just zoning out with a movie.
What do you think will be the biggest change in your life when you leave this job?
The biggest change will likely be not checking my BlackBerry during meals and at 3 a.m.