Ms. Comerford (62 years old) is considered the first woman and person of color to hold the highest position in the White House kitchen. She came to the White House to work under President Bill Clinton's administration in 1995 and was promoted to executive chef 10 years later.

Comerford has cooked for the presidential families for more than 29 years, including the Clintons, Bushes, Obamas, Trumps and Bidens, overseeing all White House cuisine from family meals to state dinners as executive chef. Her last day of work is July 26, according to a White House official.

"I have always said that food is love. Throughout her barrier-breaking career, Chef Cris has led her team with warmth and creativity, nourishing our souls along the way. With all our hearts, (President) Joe (Biden) and I are deeply grateful for her dedication and years of service," First Lady Jill Biden said in a statement.

While serving as White House executive chef, Comerford oversaw a team of three sous chefs and pastry chef Susie Morrison.

"To be a White House chef, what's really important is your gentle demeanor. Because it's not just about the knowledge, the skills, and the way you cook, but also how you treat people, how you delegate tasks, how you make your team a cohesive force," Comerford shared in a 2014 interview with CNN.

Born and raised in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, Comerford immigrated to the United States at the age of 23. She said she served salads at several hotels in Chicago, worked as a chef at two hotels in Washington DC, and spent six months in Vienna, Austria, learning French cooking techniques before being hired to work at the White House.

In 2005, Ms. Comerford was one of about 450 candidates for the position of White House executive chef, according to CNN.