Aguirre, Eduardo, 1946-

<p>Eduardo Aguirre, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and the Principality of Andorra, was appointed by President George W. Bush upon confirmation by the U.S. Senate. He was sworn-in by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He presented diplomatic credentials to H. M. King Juan Carlos I of Spain on June 29, 2005. He also presented credentials to President Jacques Chirac and Bishop Joan Enric Vives Sicília, Co-Princes of Andorra.</p>

<p>Previously, Ambassador Aguirre served, for 2 ½ years, as the first Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an Under Secretary rank position in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He led a team of 15,000 employees serving over 6 million annual applicants seeking immigration benefits. Under his leadership, USCIS made significant and measurable progress towards eliminating the application backlog, improving customer service, and enhancing national security.</p>

<p>Earlier, Ambassador Aguirre served as the Acting Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), a federal agency of the U.S. Government. During his 20 month tenure at Ex-Im, he also served as Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer.</p>

<p>Former U.S. Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre is a senior advisor to Haynes and Boone in the Houston, Texas office. He is former U.S. ambassador to Spain and Andorra. His 40-year professional career includes significant contributions in banking, government service and the boardroom. Eduardo's experience includes eight years of service in the administration of President George W. Bush in three Senate confirmed senior-level executive positions, including director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and acting-chairman, vice-chairman and chief operating officer of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.</p>

<p>Prior to his government service, Eduardo's career focused on banking for 34 years, and he retired as president of the global division of Bank of America Private Banking. He is a graduate of the American Bankers Association's National Commercial Lending Graduate School, and is a Certified Commercial Lender.</p>

<p>Eduardo advises the firm on wide ranging topics including international business issues in Spain, Latin America and the Caribbean, and U.S. inbound investment, banking and finance, immigration and energy.</p>

<p>Eduardo Aguirre Reyes, Jr. (born July 30, 1946, in Cuba), is an American diplomat, with Atlantic Partners, an international consulting firm based in Houston.</p>

<p>Until January 20, 2009, he was the United States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, appointed by President George W. Bush, confirmed by the United States Senate on June 16, 2005, and sworn in on June 24, 2005. He presented his credentials to King Juan Carlos I of Spain on June 29, 2005.</p>

<p>Aguirre was born in Cuba in 1946, and emigrated to the US in 1961 via Operation Peter Pan.</p>

<p>Eduardo Aguirre, Jr., was the first Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an Under Secretary rank position in the Department of Homeland Security. President George W. Bush nominated him to this key leadership position in February 2003. The U.S. Senate recognized his managerial and business skills, international perspective, risk management experience, and commitment to service as valuable assets for USCIS, Homeland Security and the nation, confirmed the nomination on June 19, 2003.</p>

<p>Eduardo Aguirre was sworn-in as the first USCIS Director by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge in the historic Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on August 15, 2003.</p>

<p>Director Aguirre fundamentally transformed the delivery of services by the U.S. immigration system. He led a team of 15,000 who annually served over 6 million applicants. The USCIS basic mission is to make certain that the right applicant receives the right benefit in the right amount of time, while preventing the wrong individuals from obtaining benefits. Under Director Aguirre’s leadership USCIS established three basic priorities: eliminating the immigration benefit application backlog, improving customer service, and enhancing national security.</p>