Margaret Peterlin

Early life and education Peterlin is a native of Daleville, Alabama. She graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1993, then was commissioned into the U.S. Navy as a member of the ROTC. She was the founder and first editor-in-chief of the Chicago Journal of International Law.

Private sector After leaving government service, Peterlin worked as a technology strategy officer at Mars, and later served as chief executive officer of Profectus Global Corp., a small advisory firm located in Arlington, Virginia. Prior to joining the Department of State, Peterlin was managing director at XLP Capital, a Boston-based technology consulting firm, a role she began in November 2015. She developed a rapport with Tillerson, who invited her to serve as his chief of staff.

Peterlin left the State Department effective March 31, 2018, following the firing of Secretary Tillerson.