Marco Lopez

Marco Antonio Lopez (born April 7, 1978) is an Arizona politician. He has served in both elected and non-elected public offices, including Mayor of Nogales, Arizona, Executive Director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, Policy Adviser to Governor Janet Napolitano for Mexico and Latin America, and Senior Adviser for International Affairs to the Governor. Born in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, and raised in Nogales, Arizona, United States, he graduated from the University of Arizona. Lopez served at the Arizona State Capitol as Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce appointed by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. With the Homeland Security Nomination made for Napolitano. Lopez was appointed to serve as the Chief of Staff for United Customs and Border Protection. This position he currently serves.

Political career

• Congressional page in 1994 in Washington, D.C. for U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Phoenix
• Advance team in 1998 for Al Gore's presidential campaign; joined the presidential campaign in 1999
• Mayor of Nogales, Arizona 2001-2004
• Executive Director of Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano's Arizona-Mexico Commission
• Latin American Policy Advisor to Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano
• Senior Adviser to the Governor

In December 2003, Lopez was appointed by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as the Executive Director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission. Later, he was designated as state Policy Adviser for Latin America, which is a Cabinet-level division of the Governor's office responsible for overseeing and coordinating all international Latin American affairs for the State of Arizona. In late 2006 Governor Napolitano promoted Lopez to be her Senior Adviser where he advised her on the State's political relationship with other countries and Arizona's trade relationship with Mexico, Canada, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and Japan. In late 2008, Lopez was appointed by Napolitano to serve as Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce, overseeing the state's economic development efforts and managing Arizona's investment policies.

Political Prospects

Lopez has stated publicly that he would like to be Governor of Arizona by the time he is 40 years old.

Education

Lopez earned a bachelor's degree in liberal studies and political science from the University of Arizona.