Deputy director, National Economic Council
Age: 33
Industry: Government
A driving force behind the auto bailouts, the Obama administration's most unalloyed win to date, Deese cemented his wunderkind status on the White House economic team by building the case against liquidating Chrysler. Now the Yale Law graduate claims an even bigger portfolio -- ranging from Wall Street reform to housing finance -- and the President's full attention. When Obama decamped for Martha's Vineyard in August, Deese went along to help him craft his new jobs plan.
Linguistic pet peeve: When people confuse "further" and "farther." ("Don't know why, but it drives me nuts.")
NEXT: Daniel Ammann
