Her Excellency, Chrisjen Avasarala is the Secretary-General of the United Nations. As Secretary-General, she serves as the head of state and government of Earth and Luna, and is the chief executive of the United Nations (UN).
A master politician and maneuverer, she achieved one of the highest ranks in UN government without standing for election. She manipulates those in the highest seats of power through careful cultivation of relationships with their spouses, friends, and staff nearest to them.
Chrisjen belongs to a longstanding political aristocracy on Earth, dating back to the early days of planetary exploration and colonization. Martian separatists assassinated her father during a period of interplanetary tension. Her son, a Marine, died in the line of duty while defending Earth's interests from Belter revolutionaries.
She has served as Under-Secretary-General of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General under Esteban Sorrento-Gillis, but ascended to the position of Secretary-General after the resignation of Sorrento-Gillis, and the imprisonment of Deputy Secretary-General Sadavir Errinwright on charges of treason and conspiracy, following a scandal involving the Protomolecule and Jules-Pierre Mao that sent Earth to an unfounded war with the Martian Congressional Republic (MCR).
She later lost the election to Nancy Gao, who was serving as Under-Secretary-General for Home Affairs in Avasarala's Senior Management Group (SMG) before resigning to run. She remained a member of the General Assembly and was appointed by Nancy Gao to the United Nations Ring Emigration Commission (UNREC) to facilitate emigration to interstellar colonies. Upon Gao's death, Avasarala accepted a position in the provisional SMG of Acting Secretary-General David Paster but resigned following his order to strike Pallas in retaliation for Inaros' asteroid attacks. After Paster is voted out of office by a motion of no confidence by the General Assembly (UN Parliament), Avasarala is appointed Secretary-General by parliament and has served in this position since.
