The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Senior Advisor @ Akin Gump
The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Senior Advisor, Akin Gump; Congresswoman, U.S. House Of Representatives (1989-2019)
As the first Hispanic woman elected to Congress with a public service career that spans nearly
four decades, Ros-Lehtinen brings institutional knowledge, expertise, and experience across
diverse domestic and international affairs policy matters.
four decades, Ros-Lehtinen brings institutional knowledge, expertise, and experience across
diverse domestic and international affairs policy matters.
Throughout her Congressional career, in her various roles on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, including as Chair, she led on pressing foreign policy issues, including championing the advancement of freedom and democracy for all; fighting Islamist extremism; supporting and strengthening the U.S. – Israel partnership; supporting free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea; imposing sanctions on human rights violators in Venezuela; and fighting against tyranny and oppression, particularly in her native homeland of Cuba.
Ros-Lehtinen also served on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was a member of the CIA
Subcommittee and the National Security Agency and Cybersecurity Subcommittee. Known for her bipartisanship and collegiality, Ileana’s nearly 30 years on the Hill provide a unique perspective that allows her to reach members
from both sides of the aisle on a variety of issues for her clients.
Education has been a lifelong pursuit for Ros-Lehtinen, and she holds a doctorate from the University of Miami,
master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Florida International University, and an associate’s degree from Miami Dade
College. She began her career as a Florida certified teacher, and then founded, and served as the principal of, a
private bilingual elementary school. She is married to Dexter Lehtinen, former US Attorney for the Southern
District of Florida, and a decorated Vietnam combat veteran. They have four adult children and nine grandchildren.
Upon retirement from the U.S. Congress in 2019, Ileana joined Akin Gump as a Senior Advisor and serves on
boards of varied non-profit organizations that share her passion for foreign affairs policy issues and mentorship of
future generations of leaders.
Ros-Lehtinen also served on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was a member of the CIA
Subcommittee and the National Security Agency and Cybersecurity Subcommittee. Known for her bipartisanship and collegiality, Ileana’s nearly 30 years on the Hill provide a unique perspective that allows her to reach members
from both sides of the aisle on a variety of issues for her clients.
Education has been a lifelong pursuit for Ros-Lehtinen, and she holds a doctorate from the University of Miami,
master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Florida International University, and an associate’s degree from Miami Dade
College. She began her career as a Florida certified teacher, and then founded, and served as the principal of, a
private bilingual elementary school. She is married to Dexter Lehtinen, former US Attorney for the Southern
District of Florida, and a decorated Vietnam combat veteran. They have four adult children and nine grandchildren.
Upon retirement from the U.S. Congress in 2019, Ileana joined Akin Gump as a Senior Advisor and serves on
boards of varied non-profit organizations that share her passion for foreign affairs policy issues and mentorship of
future generations of leaders.