Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat who served as the 66th United States Secretary of State from 2005 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. She was the first African American woman to hold this position and played a key role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during her tenure, particularly in relation to the Iraq War and U.S.-Russia relations. Before her role as Secretary of State, Rice was the National Security Advisor from 2001 to 2005, making her one of the most influential figures in the Bush administration. She has also held academic positions, including serving as a professor at Stanford University and as a director of the Hoover Institution.