WASHINGTON—Victoria “Toria” Nuland, former Under Secretary and Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, has joined Covington’s Public Policy practice and Global Problem Solving group in Washington as a senior advisor.
Toria has served under six Presidents and 10 Secretaries of State in various capacities, has 35 years of experience in foreign policy and strategy, diplomacy, communications, and management at the U.S. Department of State and the White House, and is a retired Career Ambassador in the U.S. Diplomatic Service, one of only 38 people in U.S. history to attain that rank.
“In an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, global businesses require sophisticated and practical advice to tackle issues that involve both private and governmental interests. Covington’s lawyers and advisors bring decades of experience and judgment in commercial diplomacy gained at the highest levels of corporate and government practice,” said Doug Gibson, Covington’s chair. “Toria has worked across six different U.S. presidential administrations in a variety of high-profile roles, and her experience and insight will be invaluable to our clients as they encounter problems at the intersection of law, commerce, and policy.”
“After 35 years in public service, I was drawn to Covington and the approach the firm takes to supporting clients as they navigate issues at the intersection of law, commerce, and policy. Covington’s team-based, collaborative culture is especially appealing to me and offers unique benefits to the firm’s clients as they seek comprehensive solutions to their business and policy challenges,” said Toria. “I am excited to become part of this worldclass team which includes more than 120 former government officials, to share my experience and understanding with clients, and to work on complex, cutting-edge geopolitical issues.”
Until March 2024, Toria served as Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, where she oversaw and managed the work of all six regional bureaus and the counter-terrorism bureau. In this role, she helped lead U.S. diplomatic efforts to address complex crises in Ukraine, the Middle East and around the world, and also worked to broaden and strengthen America’s alliances and partnerships across Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Between July 2023 and February 2024, Toria served concurrently as Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, the second-ranking official in the State Department, and added U.S.-China relations to her portfolio.
Toria served as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs from 2013 until 2017 under President Barack Obama and Secretary John Kerry. She was responsible for leading U.S. diplomatic relations with 50 countries in Europe and Eurasia, as well as with NATO, the European Union, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Additionally, Toria was State Department Spokesperson during Secretary Hillary Clinton’s tenure from 2011 to 2013. She also was Special Envoy and Chief Negotiator on the Treaty on Conventional Arms Control in Europe from 2010 to 2011.
During George W. Bush’s presidency, Toria served as U.S. Ambassador and Permanent Representative to NATO from 2005 to 2008. As NATO Ambassador, she focused heavily on strengthening Allied support for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, on NATO-Russia issues, and on the Alliance’s global partnerships and continued expansion. Prior to serving as NATO ambassador, she was Deputy National Security Advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney from 2003 to 2005.
Toria joined the State Department's Foreign Service in 1984; early in her career, she served in various overseas postings, including in Russia, Mongolia, and China, and in many staff jobs in the State Department.
Toria is also the Shelby Cullom Davis Professor in the Practice of International Diplomacy at Columbia University's School of International and Public Policy and a Board member of the National Endowment for Democracy.
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