Brian Naranjo advises clients navigating commercial, regulatory, and political dynamics across North America and Venezuela. He brings 32 years as a U.S. Foreign Service veteran providing political risk analysis, market entry strategy, and regulatory and government relations counsel. His practice focuses on helping clients foresee and limit risk, identify emerging commercial opportunities, and develop strategies to navigate or defend against adverse government action.

Mr. Naranjo’s Venezuela expertise spans nine years across three decades and multiple assignments including as Political Officer, Desk Officer, and Deputy Chief of Mission. From 2014 to 2018, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Caracas—the Embassy’s chief operating officer—leading crisis and risk management until the Maduro regime declared him persona non grata and expelled him for his advocacy on behalf of detained American citizen Joshua Holt. He  has maintained strong ties to Venezuela through an extensive network of key relationships developed over his senior-level positions in-country. His Venezuelan-American family further informs his understanding of the country. He is professionally fluent in Spanish, including Venezuelan criollo.

Mr. Naranjo served as Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City from 2021–2024, leading over 100 professionals across the embassy and nine consulates advancing U.S. priorities on security, trade, and migration. He previously held the same portfolio at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa from 2018–2021, directing political operations during critical USMCA negotiations and the COVID-19 border response. For the final year of his tour in Ottawa, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission.

In Washington, Mr. Naranjo served at the White House as Executive Assistant (Chief of Staff) to the Deputy National Security Advisor, then to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and the Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs. He directed the State Department’s Office of Policy Planning for Western Hemisphere Affairs and the Office of UN Political Affairs.

Mr. Naranjo earned a B.S.F.S. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Active in his community, he is a Commissioner on the Police Accountability Board and an Advisor on the Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee of Talbot County, Maryland. He is a Board Member of the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center, which empowers people from diverse cultures to become engaged members of the Eastern Shore community.