Barry B. White
Encyclopedia
Barry B. White is the current United States Ambassador to Norway
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 22, 2009 and was sworn in as Ambassador on October 21, 2009. In a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
on September 15, 2009, Ambassador White emphasized the commitment shared by Norway and the U.S. to promoting human rights
, democracy
, and freedom throughout the world. He said that he looked forward to working to preserve and build upon this invaluable relationship, and to increase economic development opportunities both for U.S. companies in Norway and Norwegian firms in the United States.
from Harvard College
, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D.
from Harvard Law School
, magna cum laude, where he was an Editor of the Harvard Law Review
.
He was commissioned as a Lieutenant
in the United States Public Health Service
and served from 1967 to 1969 in the legislative liaison office in the Office of the Surgeon General at the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare
.
LLP, where he was a senior partner in the firm’s business, corporate, international and government strategies practice areas. He practised law at Foley Hoag for 40 years. Mr. White also served as Chair of Lex Mundi
, the world’s largest international association of independent law firms, and co-founded the "Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation", to provide pro bono
legal advice to social entrepreneurs around the world.
Chamber of Commerce
and as a Director of the Massachusetts Alliance for International Business
. He was active with many organizations and boards, including the American Bar Association
, as a member of the Business and International Sections; Edgewater Technology
; the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City; the Boston Municipal Research Bureau
; the Northeastern University School of Social Science, Public Policy
and Urban Affairs; the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health
; the Boston University
Goldman School of Dental Medicine
; and several others.
of New England
’s Award for Community Service
.
United States Ambassador to Norway
Prior to 1905, Sweden and Norway were politically united. The United States Ambassador to Sweden thus was the US representative for Norway as well as Sweden. In 1905 Sweden and Norway peacefully separated and Norway became an independent constitutional monarchy. On November 14, 1905, the US State...
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on September 22, 2009 and was sworn in as Ambassador on October 21, 2009. In a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It is charged with leading foreign-policy legislation and debate in the Senate. The Foreign Relations Committee is generally responsible for overseeing and funding foreign aid programs as...
on September 15, 2009, Ambassador White emphasized the commitment shared by Norway and the U.S. to promoting human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, and freedom throughout the world. He said that he looked forward to working to preserve and build upon this invaluable relationship, and to increase economic development opportunities both for U.S. companies in Norway and Norwegian firms in the United States.
Education
Mr. White holds an A.B.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, magna cum laude, where he was an Editor of the Harvard Law Review
Harvard Law Review
The Harvard Law Review is a journal of legal scholarship published by an independent student group at Harvard Law School.-Overview:According to the 2008 Journal Citation Reports, the Review is the most cited law review and has the second-highest impact factor in the category "law" after the...
.
He was commissioned as a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the United States Public Health Service
United States Public Health Service
The Public Health Service Act of 1944 structured the United States Public Health Service as the primary division of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare , which later became the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The PHS comprises all Agency Divisions of Health and...
and served from 1967 to 1969 in the legislative liaison office in the Office of the Surgeon General at the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
.
Foley Hoag and Lex Mundi
Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, Barry White served for over 13 years as Chairman and Managing Partner (CEO) of Foley HoagFoley Hoag
Foley Hoag LLP is a law firm based in Boston, Massachusetts, with additional offices in Washington, DC; Paris; and Waltham, Massachusetts. The firm represents public and private clients in a wide range of disputes and transactions worldwide...
LLP, where he was a senior partner in the firm’s business, corporate, international and government strategies practice areas. He practised law at Foley Hoag for 40 years. Mr. White also served as Chair of Lex Mundi
Lex Mundi
Lex Mundi is a professional services network. It is the largest law firm networks. The network was established in 1989. As of 2011 it had 160 member firms which have 21,100 attorneys...
, the world’s largest international association of independent law firms, and co-founded the "Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation", to provide pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
legal advice to social entrepreneurs around the world.
Organizations and boards
Barry White has been deeply involved in community services, and served as Secretary, General Counsel and Member of the Executive Committee of the Greater BostonGreater Boston
Greater Boston is the area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts surrounding the city of Boston. Due to ambiguity in usage, the size of the area referred to can be anywhere between that of the metropolitan statistical area of Boston and that of the city's combined statistical area which includes...
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
and as a Director of the Massachusetts Alliance for International Business
International Business
International business is a term used to collectively describe all commercial transactions that take place between two or more regions, countries and nations beyond their political boundary...
. He was active with many organizations and boards, including the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
, as a member of the Business and International Sections; Edgewater Technology
Edgewater Technology
Edgewater Technology is a technology management consulting firm headquartered in Wakefield, Massachusetts, United States. Edgewater, recognized by CNN/Money as the 28th fastest growing small business in 2008...
; the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City; the Boston Municipal Research Bureau
Boston Municipal Research Bureau
The Boston Municipal Research Bureau is a non-profit, member supported research organization which focuses on urban issues in Boston, Massachusetts. The bureau was founded in 1932, and has a board of directors composed of major business and institutional non-profit leaders from the city of Boston...
; the Northeastern University School of Social Science, Public Policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
and Urban Affairs; the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
; the Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Goldman School of Dental Medicine
The Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine is the dental school at Boston University. Its curriculum is noted for the Applied Professional Experience Program, which gives students practical experience at a dental practice as part of clinical training. GSDM is also noted for its student and...
; and several others.
Personal life
Barry White is married to Eleanor G. White, an affordable housing expert. They have three sons and one granddaughter. In 2005, he and his wife were awarded the American Jewish CommitteeAmerican Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
of New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
’s Award for Community Service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
.
External links
- Ambassador Barry B. White US embassy in Norway bio on White