The chief arranges itineraries for foreign dignitaries visiting the U.S. and accompanies the president on all official international travel. Additionally, the office is responsible for accrediting foreign
diplomats and publishing the list of foreign
consular offices in the U.S., organizing ceremonies for
treaty signings, conducting ambassadorial swearing-in and
state arrival ceremonies, and maintaining
Blair House, the official guest house for state visitors. The chief of protocol duties include being present at the annual
State of the Union speech (SOTU) given by the president each January before Congress. These SOTU duties include escorting the
dean of the Diplomatic Corps into the House Chamber for the SOTU speech. The chief of protocol position should not be confused with the separate
White House social secretary position. ==Divisions==