Marco A. López Jr.

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For persons of a similar name, see Marco Lopez (disambiguation).
Marco A. López Jr.
Chief of Staff of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
In office
January 21, 2009 – 2011
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byThad Bingel
Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce
In office
January 6, 2008 – January 20, 2009
GovernorJanet Napolitano
Preceded byJan Lesher
Succeeded byKent Ennis (Acting)
Mayor of Nogales, Arizona
In office
2001–2004
Preceded byCesar G. Rios
Succeeded byAlbert Kramer
Personal details
Born
Marco Antonio López Jr.

(1978-04-07) April 7, 1978 (age 46)
Nogales, Mexico
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Arizona (BA)

Marco Antonio López Jr. (born April 7, 1978) is an American politician. He has served in both elected and non-elected public offices, including as mayor of Nogales, Arizona, executive director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, policy advisor to Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano for Mexico and Latin America, and director of the Arizona Department of Commerce. He is best known as a previous chief of staff of United States Customs and Border Protection who served from 2009 to 2011 under CBP Commissioner Alan Bersin, and as senior advisor to the U.S.-based foundation of billionaire Carlos Slim focused on broadband connectivity for all and free online education.[1][2][3]

Early life and education

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Born in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, and raised in Nogales, Arizona, United States, Lopez became a United States citizen through naturalization.[citation needed] Lopez earned a bachelor's degree in liberal studies and political science from the University of Arizona.[4]

Career

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In 1994, Lopez began his career as a congressional page for Congressman Ed Pastor.[5] Lopez joined the Al Gore 2000 presidential campaign in 1999.[5]

Mayor of Nogales, Arizona

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Lopez won his first election in 2001, becoming mayor of Nogales, Arizona, a border town with a population of approximately 21,000.[6] He served as Mayor of Nogales until 2004, earning the distinction of "America's youngest mayor."[5]

Napolitano administration

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In December 2003, Lopez was appointed by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as the executive director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission. He was designated as state Policy Adviser for Latin America, which is a Cabinet-level division of the governor's office responsible for overseeing and coordinating all international Latin American affairs for the State of Arizona. In late-2006, Governor Napolitano promoted Lopez to be her senior adviser, where he advised her at the Arizona State Capitol on the state's political relationship with other countries and Arizona's trade relationship with Mexico, Canada, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and Japan. In late-2008, Lopez was appointed by Napolitano to serve as Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce, overseeing the state's economic development efforts and managing Arizona's investment policies.[citation needed]

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

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A few months after Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano was announced by President Barack Obama as the third United States Secretary of Homeland Security,[7] Lopez was appointed to serve as the chief of staff for United States Customs and Border Protection. He served in the position until 2011.[8][9]

Business

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Intermestic Partners

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In 2011, Lopez founded Intermestic Partners, one of the top international business development and political advisory firms in North America. Through Intermestic Partners, Lopez represents numerous Fortune 100 companies doing business between the United States and Latin America. Aside from advising top businesses and executives, he has worked with numerous political leaders in the United States and Latin America.[citation needed]

International Business Solutions

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Lopez is the president and CEO of International Business Solutions, Inc., a business advisory firm that provides consultancy services to domestic and international organizations.[3]

Carlos Slim Foundation

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According to multiple references in print and online media, since 2011, Marco Lopez has served as a senior advisor to the U.S. Foundation of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helu,[1][2][3] who was ranked from 2010 to 2013 by Forbes magazine as the richest person in the world. The foundation's work initiated with the launch of Connect2Compete a low-cost broadband adoption program to connect eligible working-class families to the internet.[10] Lopez is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

2022 Arizona gubernatorial campaign

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Main article: 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election

On March 16, 2021, López became the first candidate to announce his campaign for the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election. López lost the primary election to Katie Hobbs.[11][12]

Personal life

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Lopez is a licensed private pilot.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b Garcia, Uriel (February 14, 2011). "Arizona groups send supplies to Mexico after 3 disastrous earthquakes". azcentral.com. Retrieved June 26, 2018. I think most of that tension is driven out of (Washington), D.C, said Marco Lopez with the Carlos Slim Foundation
  2. ^ a b "Marco Lopez, Sr. Advisor to the Chairman, Grupo Carso". Verde Xchange website. May 18, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018. Marco A. López, Jr. is. . Senior Adviser to the Chairman of Grupo Carso and The Carlos Slim Foundation.
  3. ^ a b c "Valle Del Sol, Marco López, 2016 Profiles of Success". Valle Del Sol website. Retrieved July 9, 2018. Marco A. López, Jr. is President and CEO of International Business Solutions, Inc., a business advisory firm that provides strategic business development, market access and international policy counsel to both international and domestic organizations. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves as Senior Advisor to the U.S. office of The Carlos Slim Foundation.
  4. ^ "Marco Lopez". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Former mayor named to CBP post". Nogales International. February 12, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2021. He began his political career as a congressional page in 1994 in Washington, D.C., for U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, (D-Ariz.) and then was a member of the advance team in 1998 for Al Gore's presidential campaign.
  6. ^ "NOGALES" (PDF). Arizona Department of Commerce. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 5, 2011. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  7. ^ "Obama names Napolitano to Cabinet post". Tucson Citizen. December 1, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  8. ^ Duarte, Carmen (March 2, 2009). "Ex-'boy mayor' of Nogales takes vital border slot". arizona daily star. Retrieved June 26, 2018. Customs and Border Protection employs 54,000 in southern, northern and coastal borders of the United States. It oversees Border Patrol, the ports of entry, air and marine interdiction, agricultural and trade specialists, said López.
  9. ^ "Marco Lopez, business consultant and ex-Napolitano aide, running for Arizona governor". AZ Mirror. March 16, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021. After President Barack Obama appointed Napolitano as his homeland security secretary, Napolitano appointed Lopez as chief of staff of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
  10. ^ "Carlos Slim Helu & family". Forbes. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  11. ^ "Former Nogales mayor Marco Lopez announces run for Arizona governor". KTAR News. March 16, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021. I'm running for governor because I believe in the promise of Arizona—that Arizona is a place where anything is possible and every family has the chance to succeed, no matter who you are or where you come from," the Democrat said in the press release announcing his candidacy.
  12. ^ "We're done with 2020 – moving on to 2022". Arizona Capitol Times. October 16, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  13. ^ "Private Pilot Certificate for MARCO ANTONIO LOPEZ JR, Date of Issue: 12/20/2008". United States Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
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