Jennifer Locetta

The Honorable
Jennifer R. Locetta
Alternate Representative of the United States for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 22, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byRobert A. Wood
Personal details
Born
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
PartyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Notre Dame
OccupationDiplomat

Jennifer R. Locetta is an American diplomat who has served as the Alternate Representative of the United States for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations with the rank of Ambassador. Her nomination to the position of Alternate Representative was submitted to the United States Senate in 2025, and she was confirmed on September 18, 2025.

In such capacity, she represents the United States at meetings of the United Nations Security Council and the sessions of the United Nations General Assembly.

Before entering diplomatic service Locetta served in Florida Republican politics. She was state director of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign in Florida, worked in the Trump White House Office, and served as executive director of the Republican Party of Florida.

Early life and education

Locetta is originally from Orlando, Florida. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2006 and worked as an office manager and director of human resources at Innoprise Software.

Political career

Locetta worked in the 2012 election cycle as statewide data director for the Republican Party of Florida, supporting Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in the state. She went on to manage the unsuccessful 2014 Republican primary campaign of Richard DeNapoli for the Florida House of Representatives' 74th district. She later became executive director of the Republican Party of Sarasota during the county chairmanship of Joe Gruters.

First Trump administration

Trump's presidential campaign announced Locetta's appointment as deputy state director in Florida in November 2015. The campaign promoted her to Florida state director on July 18, 2016.

Following the 2016 election, Locetta worked on the presidential inaugural committee and then joined the White House Office on January 20, 2017 as a special assistant to the president and associate director of presidential personnel. Locetta then joined Ron DeSantis's 2018 campaign for governor of Florida.

Republican Party of Florida

The Republican Party of Florida named Locetta its executive director on January 28, 2019, a position she held until 2021 when she resigned due to staff friction with the governor's team.

Consulting

Locetta established a succession of consulting businesses in Florida after leaving the state party, becoming managing member of Sole Strategies LLC in November 2020 and of both Redshift Strategies LLC and Apparent Horizon Management in December 2022.

United Nations

Trump first submitted Locetta's name to the Senate in March 2025 and submitted it again on May 6, 2025. He nominated her for the position of Alternate Representative of the United States for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations with the rank of ambassador and as the alternate representative to sessions of the General Assembly.

The post had last been held by the career diplomat Robert A. Wood, who served under the Biden administration until January 2025.

She was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 18, 2025, by 51 votes to 47.

Personal life

Prior to her appointment as Ambassador, Locetta lived in Sarasota, Florida.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Nominations Sent to the Senate". The White House. May 6, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "PN141-28: Nomination of Jennifer Locetta for Department of State, 119th Congress (2025-2026)". Congress.gov. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on UNMISS". United States Mission to the United Nations. February 10, 2026. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Wrap Up for Thursday, September 18, 2025". Senate Democratic Caucus. September 18, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Jennifer Locetta tapped as new executive director of Florida GOP". Florida Politics. January 28, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Jennifer Locetta". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Donald J. Trump for President Campaign Organization 2016 General Election: Florida". Democracy in Action. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  10. ↑ Locetta, Jennifer (July 9, 2025). "Statement of Jennifer Locetta before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Donald J. Trump for President Announces Expansion of National Political Team". Democracy in Action. July 18, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Richard DeNapoli". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ "Jennifer R. Locetta". Trump Town. ProPublica. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  15. ↑ Wilson, Drew (October 16, 2018). "All hands on deck: Ron DeSantis campaign staffs up for final sprint". Florida Politics. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  16. ↑ Ogles, Jacob (July 20, 2021). "Florida GOP chair Joe Gruters faces sexual harassment allegation from male staffer". Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Jennifer Locetta". Trump Team Financial Disclosures. ProPublica. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  18. ↑ "PN55-27: Nomination of Jennifer Locetta for Department of State, 119th Congress (2025-2026)". Congress.gov. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  19. ↑
  20. ↑

Further reading