Dina Powell McCormick

Who Is Dina Powell McCormick? Inside the Life, Career, and Rise of Meta’s New President

Dina Powell McCormick, recently appointed President and Vice Chairman of Meta, is a global finance executive, former top White House official, and longtime public servant whose career spans national security, Wall Street, and international development.

Born Dina Habib in Cairo, Egypt, Powell McCormick is the daughter of an Egyptian army captain and a mother who studied at the American University in Cairo. As a child, she immigrated to the United States with her family. They later settled in Dallas, Texas, where her parents ran a convenience store and worked in real estate. Her father also worked as a city bus driver, experiences she has often credited with shaping her views on opportunity, work ethic, and public service.

She attended the Ursuline Academy of Dallas, graduating in 1991, before enrolling at the University of Texas at Austin. There, she completed the prestigious Plan II Honors Program and earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities in 1995, according to her professional biography.

Powell McCormick went on to build a career that bridged government service and global finance. During the George W. Bush administration, she served as an assistant to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and later rose to senior positions, including Assistant Secretary of State and Undersecretary for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy, where she focused on international engagement and U.S. foreign policy communications.

In 2007, she joined Goldman Sachs, where she spent 16 years and became a partner, serving in senior leadership roles. During her time on Wall Street, she led major sovereign investment initiatives and played a central role in high-profile economic development programs, building relationships with governments and institutions across the globe.

She returned to government in 2017 during President Donald Trump’s first term, serving as Deputy National Security Adviser and Assistant to the President for Economic Initiatives, where she worked on diplomacy, national security coordination, and international economic strategy.

After leaving government, Powell McCormick joined BDT & MSD Partners in 2023, a Chicago- and New York-based merchant bank managing approximately $70 billion in assets. She served as Vice Chairman and President, overseeing global client relationships and strategic growth.

Beyond her executive roles, Powell McCormick has maintained a significant presence in philanthropy and corporate governance. She serves as Chairman of the Robin Hood Foundation Board and is a board member of Exxon Mobil. She is also a trustee of several major institutions, including the National Geographic Society, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Mount Sinai Hospital, and the Atlantic Council.

In April 2025, she joined Meta’s board of directors, where she became deeply involved in the company’s push into advanced AI and global infrastructure. She resigned from the board in December ahead of her transition into an executive leadership role. She is the second Trump administration official to take a senior role at Meta, following the appointment of the company’s chief legal officer, Curtis Joseph Mahoney.

Powell McCormick is also the author of the book “Who Believed in You: How Purposeful Mentorship Changes the World,” which explores leadership, opportunity, and the power of mentorship.

On the personal front, she married Richard C. Powell in 1998, and the couple had two daughters. She later married Dave McCormick in 2019, a financier and former government official who currently serves as the Republican U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.

From immigrant beginnings in Texas to the highest levels of American government, finance, and now Silicon Valley leadership, Dina Powell McCormick’s career reflects a rare blend of public service, corporate influence, and global reach — positioning her as one of the most powerful figures shaping Meta’s future.

FAQs About Dina Powell McCormick

Who is Dina Powell McCormick?

Dina Powell McCormick is a global finance executive, former U.S. government official, and the newly appointed President and Vice Chairman of Meta. She has served in senior roles in the White House, the U.S. State Department, Goldman Sachs, and BDT & MSD Partners.

Where was Dina Powell McCormick born?

She was born as Dina Habib in Cairo, Egypt, and later immigrated to the United States with her family.

What is Dina Powell McCormick’s educational background?

She graduated from Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 1991 and earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities from the University of Texas at Austin in 1995 through the Plan II Honors Program.

What roles did Dina Powell McCormick hold in the U.S. government?

She served under two U.S. presidents. During the George W. Bush administration, she worked at the State Department and later became Assistant Secretary of State and Undersecretary for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy. During Donald Trump’s first term, she served as Deputy National Security Adviser and Assistant to the President for Economic Initiatives.

What was her role at Goldman Sachs?

Dina Powell McCormick spent 16 years at Goldman Sachs, becoming a partner and serving in senior leadership roles. She led the firm’s Global Sovereign Investment Banking business and spearheaded major global economic development initiatives.

What did she do after leaving Goldman Sachs?

In 2023, she joined BDT & MSD Partners as Vice Chairman and President, overseeing global client services and strategic growth at the merchant bank.

What is Dina Powell McCormick’s role at Meta?

She has been appointed President and Vice Chairman of Meta, where she oversees strategic partnerships and helps guide the company’s large-scale global infrastructure and long-term investment strategy.

When did Dina Powell McCormick join Meta?

She joined Meta’s board of directors in April 2025 and transitioned into an executive leadership role later that year.

Why did she resign from Meta’s board?

She resigned from Meta’s board in December to avoid conflicts of interest before assuming her executive position as President and Vice Chairman.

Is Dina Powell McCormick connected to the Trump administration?

Yes. She served as Deputy National Security Adviser and Assistant to the President during Donald Trump’s first term.

Who is Dina Powell McCormick’s husband?

She is married to Dave McCormick, a financier and former government official who currently serves as the Republican U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.

Does Dina Powell McCormick have children?

Yes. She has two daughters from her first marriage.

What philanthropic work is she involved in?

She is Chairman of the Robin Hood Foundation Board and serves as a trustee or board member of several major institutions, including the National Geographic Society, Lincoln Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, the Atlantic Council, and Exxon Mobil.

Has Dina Powell McCormick written any books?

Yes. She is the author of Who Believed in You: How Purposeful Mentorship Changes the World.

What is Dina Powell McCormick’s professional background?

Her background spans public service, national security, global finance, corporate leadership, and international economic development.

Why is her appointment at Meta significant?

Her appointment is seen as major because of her experience at the highest levels of government and finance, positioning her to help guide Meta’s long-term strategy, AI expansion, and massive global infrastructure investments.

Is she the only former Trump official at Meta?

No. She is the second Trump administration official to take a senior role at Meta, following the company’s chief legal officer.

What programs did she lead at Goldman Sachs?

She helped lead major economic development initiatives focused on global growth, investment, and entrepreneurship.

What is Dina Powell McCormick’s nationality?

She is American, having immigrated to the United States as a child.

What makes Dina Powell McCormick influential?

Her influence comes from decades of leadership across the White House, Wall Street, major global institutions, and now one of the world’s largest technology companies.