Frank Lavin | |
|---|---|
 Lavin in 1987 | |
| United States Ambassador to Singapore | |
| In office September 10, 2001 – October 11, 2005 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Steven Green |
| Succeeded by | Patricia Herbold |
| White House Director of Political Affairs | |
| In office March 16, 1987 – January 20, 1989 Serving with Frank Donatelli | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Haley Barbour |
| Succeeded by | James Wray |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Franklin L. Lavin (1957-10-26) October 26, 1957 Canton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Georgetown University (BS, MS) Johns Hopkins University (MA) University of Pennsylvania (MBA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | .svg/1280px-Flag_of_the_United_States_(DDD-F-416E_specifications).svg.png) United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Rank | Lieutenant commander |
| Unit | U.S. Naval Reserve |
Franklin L. Lavin (born October 26, 1957) is an American diplomat, international business advisor, author, and public speaker who served as the White House Political Director from 1987 to 1989, United States Ambassador to Singapore from 2001 to 2005, and as Under Secretary for International Trade in the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2005 to 2007. Lavin held senior roles in the Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush administrations, focusing on foreign policy, trade policy, and White House operations. In the private sector, he has held leadership positions in corporate banking and e-commerce. Lavin is a frequent commentator on trade, U.S. foreign policy, and U.S. politics.[1]
Early life and education
Lavin was born in Canton, Ohio and graduated from Phillips Academy Andover in 1975. He earned a B.S. in International Politics from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and completed graduate studies in Chinese at the National Taiwan Normal University. Lavin also went on to earn an M.S. in Chinese language from Georgetown University; an M.A. in International Relations and International Economics from the School of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University; and an MBA in Finance at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.[1]
Career
Reagan and Bush (41) Administrations (1980-1993)
Lavin joined the Reagan Administration in 1980, starting in the Office of the President-Elect (the transition office), and moved to the White House following the Inauguration. At the end of 1981, he went to the Asia Bureau, then the Africa Bureau of AID, and returned to the White House to serve in the Office of Public Liaison through the 1984 election.
After the Reagan reelection, Lavin joined the National Security Council as Deputy Executive Secretary, responsible for managing presidential activity. Among other assignments, he helped organize the Reagan-Gorbachev Reykjavik Summit. In 1987, Lavin was appointed Director of the White House Office of Political Affairs, responsible for the President’s political activities, the most significant of which was Reagan’s support for then-Vice President Bush’s presidential campaign.
In the George H.W. Bush Administration, Lavin served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific in the Department of Commerce, overseeing US commercial policy and trade negotiations for East Asia (ex-Japan) as well as assisting American companies in the Asian market.[2]
Banking and Consulting Work in Asia
In 1996, Lavin joined Citibank as Vice President of Global Relationship Banking, responsible for the energy/power and chemical/pharmaceutical sectors. In 1999, Lavin moved to Bank of America, where he co-managed its multinational business across ten countries in Southeast Asia/Australia.
Return to Government (2001-2007)
President George Bush nominated Lavin to be the Ambassador of the United States to Singapore on July 18, 2001. He was confirmed by voice vote, and he was sworn in on August 13, 2001.[3] As ambassador, Lavin helped lead negotiations on the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. After the September 11th attacks, Lavin coordinated counter-terrorism and national security programs with Singapore, which was targeted by terrorist groups.[4]
A 2005 report by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of State praised Lavin's leadership in this position, calling him "a strong leader with a high degree of intellectual curiosity who wants to be kept well-briefed by all agencies, and yet lets people do their jobs without micromanaging".[5]
In the same year, President Bush nominated Lavin to be Under Secretary for International Trade at the United States Department of Commerce. In his confirmation hearing, Lavin stated that service would be guided by three principles: that US companies could “compete successfully in the international marketplace and [that] there are many export opportunities for US companies, large and small”; that “we must open markets and enforce the rules that govern trade”; and that “to be effective in our mission, we must work closely with Congress.” As Under Secretary, Lavin was responsible for trade negotiations, compliance, market entrance strategies, and US export promotion.[6]
Post-Government Career
After leaving government, Lavin held private sector and academic positions focused on Asia, international business, and U.S. politics. Lavin helped launch Export Now, a company that assisted US consumer brands with e-commerce and market entry strategies for China.[7][8]
Academia and Publications
From 2022 to 2024, Lavin was a Visiting Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, where he continued to work on “Inside the Reagan White House” and foreign policy issues.[9]
In 2025, Lavin was the Parikh Family Fellow at the USC Center for the Political Future.[10] He led a weekly seminar, “Statecraft: How Leaders Drive Policies and Policies Drive Outcomes,” and also advised students.[11]
Lavin is the author of over forty articles and essays in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and more. Since 2016, he has written a monthly column in Forbes.[12]
Personal life
Frank Lavin and his wife Ann (née Wortley) have been married since November 29, 1980.[13] They have three children.
Lavin served as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve. In 2023-24, he participated in two humanitarian missions to Ukraine, driving an ambulance to donate to the Health Ministry.[14] He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Selected publications
Lavin is the author of four books:
- Lavin, Frank. Inside the Reagan White House: A Front Row Seat to Presidential Leadership with Lessons for Today. Brentwood, TN: Post Hill Press, 2025. ISBN 9798888456941
- Lavin, Frank. The Smart Buriness Guide to China E-Commerce. Singapore: Penguin Random House SEA, 2021. ISBN 9789814954655
- Lavin, Frank, and Kissinger, Henry. Home Front to Battlefront: An Ohio Teenager in World War II. Athens, OH: Ohio University Press, 2017. ISBN 9780821445921
- Lavin, Frank, and Cohan, Peter. Export Now: Five Keys to Entering New Markets. New York City, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. ISBN 9780470828199
References
- ^ a b Biography. "Franklin L. Lavin, Undersecretary for International Trade". ITA.gov. Archived from the original on 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
- ^ Lavin, Frank (1 July 1994). "Negotiating with the Chinese (Or How Not to Kowtow)". Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ "Lavin, Frank L." United States Department of State. September 5, 2001. Archived from the original on February 6, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
- ^ Lavin, Frank (29 November 2012). "Enemies at the Gates: Security Lessons from a Foiled Embassy Attack". Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ Report of Inspection: Embassy Singapore (PDF) (Report). Office of the Inspector General of the Department of State. 2005. p. 8. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
- ^ "Written Statement by Ambassador Franklin L. Lavin, Under Secretary-Designate" (PDF). US Senate.
- ^ "Home". Export Now.
- ^ Grossmann, John (17 September 2014). "When Plan to Help Others Sell in China Fails, a Start-Up Changes Tack". The New York Times.
- ^ "Frank Lavin". Hoover Institution.
- ^ "USC students chew on the government shutdown at 'Pizza and Politics' event". Annenberg Media. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ "Frank Lavin: Fall 2025 Parikh Family Fellow". USC Dornsife.
- ^ "Frank Lavin". Forbes.
- ^ John Gizzi (14 August 2007). "Remembering Rove". Human Events. Archived from the original on 15 August 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^ Lavin, Frank. "Summer Ukraine Road Trip: Delivering Ambulances To Hospitals In Need". Forbes. Integrated Whale Media Investments. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
Political Service
- Official website
- Appearances on C-SPAN
