Fathers of the White House
White House staffers open up about being a dad.
1 / 8
Happy Father's Day - As part of BET.com's Father's Day salute, we were invited to the White House for an intimate discussion with members of the Obama administration about the importance of fatherhood in their lives. And while these government insiders have the power to influence everything from the Affordable Care Act and the president's schedule to the Department of Justice and civil rights cases affecting 100 million people, these roles pale in comparison to their ultimate responsibility as fathers. —Andre Showell (Photo: Chantal Costen/BET)
2 / 8
Gregory Lorjuste - Deputy Director of Scheduling for President Barack Obama As Deputy Director of Scheduling, Lorjuste’s role includes managing the day-to-day logistics of the president’s daily schedule. He married his college sweetheart, Kimberly, in 2007. They are raising one daughter, Riley Elizabeth, 2, and are expecting a baby boy, Aiden Gregory, in early September. Lorjuste enjoys taking Riley to the playground and makes a point of being home each night before she goes to bed. (Photo: Chantal Costen/BET)
3 / 8
Anton Gunn - Director of External Affairs, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Anton Gunn serves as the principal adviser for cultivating and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders for the secretary of Health and Human Services. Anton and his wife are parents to their 8-year-old daughter, Ashley. They spend time visiting museums, shopping for Mom, tailgating at college football games and playing marathon games of Uno. (Photo: Chantal Costen/BET)
4 / 8
Tony West - Acting Associate Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice As the third ranking official at the Department of Justice, Tony West advises and assists the attorney general and the deputy attorney general with departmental policies ranging from civil litigation and public safety to federal and local law enforcement. Tony and his wife, Maya, are the proud parents of Meena Harris, who is following in dad's footsteps as a newly-minted attorney. They have a standing, weekly dinner date at her favorite sushi restaurant even though he admits that he hates sushi. (Photo: Chantal Costen/BET)
5 / 8
Nikolis Smith - Confidential Assistant, Office of Management and Budget As part of Nikolis Smith's role with the Office of Management and Budget, he works with agencies and the private sector to ensure that small businesses have access to the $500 billion in government contracts that go out each year. Prior to his appointment, Smith served as a special liaison to the former Japanese vice minister of foreign affairs. While studying in Japan, Smith met and married his wife. Together they love taking their 10-month-old son, Maxwell, on long walks at the park. (Photo: Chantal Costen/BET)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 8
Lance Williams II - Special Assistant for Business Affairs, U.S. Department of Treasury Lance Williams II serves as a business liaison for senior Treasury Department officials, co-ordinates public engagements and implements strategy for interfacing with the private sector. The Morehouse College graduate currently lives in the D.C. metro area with his wife, LaRae, and 4-year-old daughter, Layla Madison. Because Layla loves Disney princesses and playing dress-up, Lance ensures that he takes the time to teach her that a real prince charming is a man of integrity, drive, compassion and unyielding love for his family. (Photo: Chantal Costen/BET)
7 / 8
Joe Leonard Jr. - Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Agriculture Nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 2, 2009, Assistant Secretary Joe Leonard is the longest serving assistant secretary for civil rights in the USDA’s history. Leonard and his wife, Dr. Natasha Cole-Leonard, have been married for more than 20 years and are proud parents to 10-year-old son Cole. Leonard still remembers his own father's guidance and hopes his own son speaks well of him, even when he's not in the room. (Photo: Chantal Costen/BET)
