Bush, Dwight Lamar, 1957-

<p>Dwight Lamar Bush Sr. (born February 4, 1957) is an American businessman who was the United States Ambassador to Morocco from 2014 to 2017.</p>

<p>Bush was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. One of five siblings, he has credited his parents for "[making] sure that their children could fully participate in the American Dream."</p>

<p>He attended Cornell University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in government in 1979 and was a member of the Quill and Dagger society. He has credited Cornell's noted history professor Walter LaFeber, among others at the university, for sparking his interest in world affairs. He said in 2016, "I show up at Cornell and start to meet scholars. ... If I had not had the Cornell experience, it's highly unlikely I’d be where I am today."</p>

<p>Upon leaving college, Bush took a position with Chase Manhattan Bank, where he worked for the next fifteen years. There he worked in corporate banking with an emphasis by choice on matters involving international scope; his assignments took him to Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. He also worked in corporate finance and project finance roles in New York and in Washington, D.C., eventually rising to being managing director in the Project Finance Group.</p>

<p>In 1994, Bush left Chase Manhattan and became vice president of corporate development at Sallie Mae, where he stayed until 1997. Over the next decade he held a variety of positions, including as a principal at Stuart Mill Capital, vice president and chief financial officer at SatoTravel Holdings, and vice chairman at Enhanced Capital Partners. He became the founder of D. L. Bush & Associates, a Washington-based firm that does financial and business consulting. During 2006–2008 he served as president and CEO of Urban Trust Bank, an affiliate of RLJ Companies that intended to become a new model of urban-based community retail banking.</p>

<p>Bush has worked with a number of educational and research institutions, including Cornell University, Xavier University of Louisiana, and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, as well as philanthropic organizations such as the GAVI Alliance and its financing arm The Vaccine Fund.</p>

<p>Bush is married to Antoinette Cook Bush, with whom he has two children. She is a communications law specialist who is executive vice president and global head of government affairs for News Corp. A cousin of Valerie Jarrett, a close aide to President Barack Obama, and a step-daughter of Vernon Jordan, a long-time influential figure, Antoinette Cook Bush has well-developed social and business ties in Washington.</p>

<p>Dwight Bush is himself a longtime member of the Democratic Party and over the years has personally contributed over $130,000 to Democratic politicians and organizations. On a few occasions he has also given money to Republican Party politicians. Bush became a successful bundler for the Barack Obama 2012 presidential re-election campaign. In that effort he raised more than $500,000 for the campaign.</p>

<p>Bush was nominated for the position of United States Ambassador to Morocco on August 1, 2013, by President Obama, to fill the spot relinquished by the previous ambassador Samuel L. Kaplan. Bush testified regarding his nomination before the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on September 24, 2013. At the time some fifty ambassadorial appointments were being held up for long delays before confirmation, due to frictions between Obama and the Republican-controlled Senate. Finally on March 13, 2014, Bush's appointment was confirmed by voice vote. He assumed the position of ambassador later that month.</p>

<p>In the role, Bush has sought to continue the positive nature that has long characterized Morocco–United States relations. In a January 2016 interview, Bush said he was optimistic about the future of Morocco, because of its open business climate and due to it being a "moderate, progressive Islamic state ... [that] from a political perspective ... has been ahead of many others in the region."</p>

<p>Dwight Bush served as the U.S. Ambassador to Morocco from 2014-2017. Born in East St. Louis, Illinois, Ambassador Bush earned a B.A. from Cornell University in 1979. He then joined Chase Manhattan Bank, where he enjoyed a 15-year career that included international corporate banking assignments in Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, and corporate finance and project finance in New York and Washington, D.C.</p>

<p>After 15 years at Chase, Dwight Bush had risen to the position of Managing Director in the Project Finance Group when he resigned and joined Sallie Mae Corporation, serving as Vice President of Corporate Development from 1994 to 1997. From 1998 to 2006, Mr. Bush worked as a principal at Stuart Mill Capital, LLC; Vice President and CFO at Sato Travel Holdings, Inc.; and Vice Chairman at Enhanced Capital Partners, LLC.</p>

<p>Dwight Bush was President and CEO of Urban Trust Bank, Urban Trust Holdings and President of UTB Education Finance, LLC from 2006 through 2008. He also has worked as Vice Chairman of EntreMed, Inc. since 2010 and as a Director since 2004. Dwight Bush has worked with a variety of philanthropic and education institutions, including Cornell University, Xavier University (Louisiana), the GAVI Alliance, National Symphony Orchestra, The Vaccine Fund, and the Joint Centers for Social and Economic Studies. He served as a Director of JER Investors Trust Inc. until May 28, 2009. Dwight Bush is married to News Corp attorney Antoinette Cook Bush, with whom he has two children: Dwight Bush Jr. and Jacqueline Bush.</p>

<p>Ambassador Dwight Bush had a 35 year career in finance and corporate management before he became a U.S. diplomat. He has served as an executive within numerous financial institutions and sat on the board of directors for several corporate, educational, and non-profit organizations.</p>

<p>Born on February 4, 1957 in East St. Louis, Illinois, Dwight Bush was the fourth of five children in his family. After high school he attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he completed a B.A. degree in Government in 1979. Bush then joined Chase Manhattan Bank as a trainee in the management development program. At Chase, he gained experience in international corporate banking, working on assignments in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. In New York City and Washington, D.C., Bush worked in Chase’s corporate and project finance and by 1993 he had risen to managing director within Chase’s Project Finance Group.</p>

<p>After 15 years at Chase, Bush sought out new challenges. In 1994, he joined the Sallie Mae Corporation, which offers student loans, serving as vice president of corporate development and chief credit officer. From 1997 to 2002, Bush served as vice president and chief financial officer at Sato Travel Holdings in Arlington, Virginia. Between 2002 and 2006, Bush worked for Stuart Mill Capital in Falls Church, Virginia as a principal. From 2004 to 2005, he served as vice chairman of Enhanced Capital Partners, LLC in New York City.</p>

<p>In 2004, Bush helped start Urban Trust Bank and Urban Trust Holdings in Washington, D.C., where he went on to serve as president and chief executive officer. He also held the position of president of Urban Trust Bank Education Finance.</p>

<p>Bush has served on the board of directors of several corporate and not-for-profit organizations. In 2004, he was appointed to the board of EntreMed Incorporated in Rockville, Maryland and in 2010 he was nominated as vice chairman. He also served on the corporate boards of Inner City Broadcasting Corporation and Urban Cableworks in New York City, Urban Trust Bank Holdings, and JER Investors Trust Incorporated in McLean, Virginia.</p>

<p>Bush’s philanthropic efforts has also placed him on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations, he has sat on the board of Cornell University, the Georgetown Day School, the National Symphony Orchestra and GAVI Alliance, which is an organization that provides immunizations to people living in developing countries.</p>

<p>As a lifelong Democrat, Bush has made substantial donations to the campaigns of Democratic office seekers. In President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, Bush was a leading campaign contributor and fundraiser.</p>

<p>On August 1, 2013, President Obama nominated Dwight Bush for the post of United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco and on March 13, 2014, the United States Senate confirmed Bush’s appointment. Bush presented his credentials to King Mohammed VI in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, on April 4, 2014.</p>

<p>Bush is married to News Corp attorney Antoinette Cook Bush. They have two children.</p>