Student Internship Program

This tool is to be interpreted as a guideline only. It is intended to help applicants in identifying bureaus to which their majors may relate. Bureaus and offices require a broad range of skills and academic backgrounds to accomplish their goals, and do not limit their selections to only those majors indicated here.

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The Bureau of Administration provides support programs to the Department of State and U.S. embassies and consulates. These programs include: real property and facilities management; procurement; supply and transportation; diplomatic pouch and mail services; official records, publishing, and library services; language services; setting allowance rates for U.S. Government personnel assigned abroad and providing support to the overseas schools educating their dependents; overseeing safety and occupational health matters; small and disadvantaged business utilization; and support for both White House travel abroad and special conferences called by the President or Secretary of State.
  • Office of the Executive Director (A/EX): supports the Assistant Secretary for Administration through the provision of executive management and administrative services, including management analysis, strategic planning, financial management, human resources management, procurement, and information technology services for the Bureau of Administration. A/EX also provides some of these services to several other Department of State bureaus. Internship possibilities in A/EX could encompass any of these functions.
  • Office of the Procurement Executive (A/OPE): establishes and reviews cutting-edge policy governing federal acquisitions and federal assistance such as grants for domestic and overseas missions. Interns working in A/OPE can expect to work on numerous challenging issues, such as researching legislation or federal regulations, drafting policy and answering relevant questions from stakeholders, including senators, congressmen, auditors, and direct contact with overseas missions and domestic bureaus.
  • Commercial Services Management (A/CSM): develops policies for acquisition initiatives dealing with the balance of the workforce between government employees and contractors; implements reporting requirements for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) dealing with the composition of the workforce, including the Federal Activities Inventory Reform (FAIR) Act report and the Service Contract Inventory.
  • Office of Emergency Management (A/OEM): provides planning, training, and exercises to ensure preparedness for the Department’s leadership and workforce to respond to and recover from all domestic hazards affecting the Department and to ensure continuation of the Department’s mission in conjunction with its partners. A/OEM is comprised of the Diplomatic Continuity Programs Division and the Planning and Preparedness Division.
  • Office of Operations (A/OPR): manages, directs, and establishes policies for diverse administrative programs including domestic real property and facility management, centralized acquisition, worldwide supply and transportation, assistance to overseas schools, language services, and the administration of foreign allowances.
    • Office of Allowances (A/OPR/ALS): develops and coordinates policies and regulations, standards and procedures for the administration of the government-wide allowances, post differentials and representational expenses for government employees assigned to foreign countries; sets rates for overseas per diem and other allowances.
    • Office of Language Services (A/OPR/LS): provides interpreting (spoken word), translating (written word), and other language services needed to conduct foreign relations with the non-English-speaking nations and peoples of the world. A/OPR/LS responds to the language needs of both the Department of State and the White House.
    • Office of Facilities Management Services (A/OPR/FMS): is responsible for the management and administration of domestic building operations and maintenance. FMS is also responsible for all domestic energy, environmental, occupational health, fire, and life safety programs.
    • Office of Real Property Management (A/OPR/RPM): is responsible for managing the Department of State’s domestic real estate assets. A/OPR/RPM provides a complete and comprehensive range of real property management services including space assignments, leasing, office and building design and construction, furniture selection, and architectural and engineering services for all domestic offices and bureaus at the Department.
  • Office of Global Information Services (A/GIS): provides executive direction and policy guidance on substantive activities to ensure that the Department and other foreign affairs agencies receive the full range of classified and unclassified information and multimedia publishing services in a cost-effective customer service-oriented manner.
    • Office of Global Publishing Solutions (A/GIS/GPS): provides centralized editorial, graphics, multimedia publishing, and distribution services, and prescribes standards for Departmental editorial, printing, and photocopier activities.
    • Office of Directives Management (A/GIS/DIR): manages a number of programs that have agency- and worldwide effects, among them: internal policies, procedures and guidance (directives); forms management; information collections (Paperwork Reduction Act - PRA); rule-making coordination; delegations of authority; Presidential determinations; and liaison with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of the Federal Register (OFR), General Services Administration (GSA), and other U.S. Government agencies.
    • Office of Information Programs and Services (A/GIS/IPS): serves as the primary point of contact and principal adviser on all matters concerning the management of information as a critical resource, specifically relating to records life cycle management, public and need- to-know access to information, classification management and declassification, privacy, research of official record and public information resources, and corporate records archives.
  • Office of Logistics Management (A/LM): provides logistics supply chain management activities including acquisition, warehousing and distribution, transportation, and property management support domestically and to every American embassy and consulate worldwide. This office’s clients both overseas and domestic are primarily from the Department of State but may also be personnel of other U.S. Government agencies involved in foreign affairs and overseas operations.
    • Office of Acquisitions Management (A/LM/AQM): provides a full range of professional contract management services. The office plans and directs domestic and overseas Department of State acquisition programs. These activities include acquisitions planning, contract negotiations, cost and pricing analysis, and contract administration to customers in support of procurement activities worldwide.
    • Office of Logistics Operations (A/LM/OPS): offers technical guidance on transportation and travel procedures, manages official travel services, coordinates the transport of household effects (HHE) and personally owned vehicles (POV) to and from posts, provides storage for personal HHE and POVs, provides material management services, and manages the overseas motor vehicles program.
    • Office of Program Management and Policy (A/LM/PMP): is responsible for worldwide management and oversight of the Department’s personal property program; Diplomatic Pouch and Mail service; professional development and implementation of logistics systems, including the Integrated Logistics Management System (ILMS); logistics policy; and purchase card operations. The office also promotes and guides business process improvements for the Department’s logistics service providers.
    • Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (A/SDBU): ensures that the Department of State effectively utilizes U.S. small businesses (Small Disadvantaged, Woman-owned, Veteran- owned, Service Disabled Veteran-owned, HUBZone) in its prime contracts and subcontracts.

The Bureau of African Affairs (AF) works to foster a dynamic of development and democracy that builds on Africa’s traditions and advances U.S. interests by creating an environment in which freedom, prosperity and security become the benchmarks for success in the U.S.-African partnership of the 21st century. The bureau conducts the full range of U.S. foreign relations with the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, providing staffing and resource support to our embassies in challenging environments. Offices include:
  • Office of East African Affairs (AF/E): oversees policy for the East African Region, and liaises with the U.S. Embassies in Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda.
  • Office of Central African Affairs (AF/C): oversees policy for the Central African Region, and liaises with the U.S. Embassies in Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
  • Office of South African Affairs (AF/S): oversees policy for the South African Region, and liaises with the U.S. Embassies in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
  • Office of West African Affairs (AF/W): oversees policy for the West African Region, and liaises with the U.S. Embassies in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
  • Office Economic and Regional Affairs (AF/ERA): advises on critical economic issues and programs such as the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA).
  • Office of the Executive Director (AF/EX): coordinates logistics, management, budget, and human resources for the bureau.
  • Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (AF/PDPA): is responsible for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs coordination for the Africa Bureau.
  • Office of Regional and Security Affairs (AF/RSA): coordinates policies relating to the African Union (AU) and other regional multilateral and security-focused issues.

The Under Secretary’s office provides policy direction in the areas of nonproliferation, arms control, regional security and defense relations, and export control policy. The office is heavily involved in negotiations, ratifications, and implementations of agreements on strategic, non-conventional and conventional forces. The office is also involved in policy regarding U.S. security commitments worldwide as well as the use of U.S. military forces in unilateral or international peacemaking roles. Bureaus reporting to T include: Arms Control, Verification and Compliance (AVC); International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN); and Political-Military Affairs (PM).

The Arms Control, Verification and Compliance (AVC) Bureau’s core mission is to ensure that appropriate verification requirements and capabilities are fully considered and properly integrated throughout the development, negotiation, and implementation of arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament agreements and commitments, and to ensure that other countries’ compliance is carefully watched, rigorously assessed, appropriately reported, and resolutely enforced. The bureau leads U.S. efforts to develop arms control policies for the implementation of existing agreements and the negotiation of future agreements. AVC prepares the President’s annual report to Congress on Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments. AVC has the lead within the Department of State on all issues related to missile defense and national security space policy. It also leads efforts to develop new verification and transparency technologies in support of arms control agreements and arrangements. AVC offices include:
  • Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons Affairs (AVC/CBW): Responsible for efforts to promote the global ban on chemical weapons embodied in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC); manages the U.S. National Authority for the CWC; and assesses compliance with the CWC and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
  • Office of Euro-Atlantic Security Affairs (AVC/ESA): Responsible for developing U.S. policy relative to existing and prospective European and Euro-Atlantic arms control agreements and security arrangements concerning conventional and nuclear weapons and forces, including the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE); the Vienna Document 1999 Confidence and Security- Building Measures (CSBMs); and the Treaty on Open Skies.
  • Office of Missile Defense and Space Policy (AVC/MDSP): Responsible for policy and programmatic, technical, and threat issues related to strategic space transparency and confidence-building measures and issues concerning ballistic and cruise missile defenses.
  • Office of Multilateral and Nuclear Affairs (AVC/MNA): Responsible for the efforts to promote the vision of a safe, secure world without nuclear weapons through the identification, negotiation, assessment, and implementation of global and multinational arms control, transparency, and confidence-building measures, and other measures.
  • Nuclear Risk Reduction Center (AVC/NRRC): Operates dedicated, government-to-government communications systems on a 24-hour basis to support implementation of arms control and other security agreements.
  • Office of Strategic Affairs (AVC/SA): Responsible for strategic arms control treaties and implementation of current and prospective arms control agreements involving strategic, intermediate-range, and nonstrategic nuclear weapons systems.
  • Office of Verification and Transparency Technologies (AVC/VTT): Responsible for assessing the capability of technologies, systems, devices, and techniques to promote verification with arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament agreements and commitments.

The Bureau of Budget and Planning carries out the principal responsibilities of preparing and submitting the Department’s budget requests, managing the Department’s operational resource requirements, and ensuring that operational planning and performance management are synchronized with the Department’s resource requirements. This shop is the first stop for any Department funding. It reviews the requirements and develops the budget, presenting appropriations requests and financial plans to OMB, the President, and Congress and then ensures available resources are optimally allocated to achieve Department-wide strategic goals. It manages a network of Department budget and financial management processes and activities involving Department principals, other Department resource management offices, all Department bureaus, and other government agencies to operate a worldwide program for budget formulation, presentation and execution.

The Office of the Chief of Protocol for the Office of the Secretary provides the President and the Secretary of State with advice on fulfilling the government’s obligations relating to national and international protocol. They are responsible for planning, arranging, and executing programs for visiting chiefs-of-state and heads of government, foreign ministers, and other high-level officials. They coordinate with the White House on the presentation of credentials of foreign ambassadors to the President and accredit foreign ambassadors and other diplomatic and consular officers. The office plans and executes arrangements for official functions hosted by the Secretary of State.

Formerly the Office of the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs and Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, J coordinates U.S. foreign relations on a variety of global issues, including democracy, labor and human rights, population and the environment, international scientific affairs, migration, and refugees. The Under Secretary oversees U.S. participation in the Community of Democracies, U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council and U.S.-Iraq Women’s Network initiatives. J has direct oversight of five bureaus: Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO); Counterterrorism (CT); Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL); International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL); and Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). Additional offices reporting to J include:
  • Office of Global Criminal Justice (J/GCJ): Formerly the Office of War Crimes Issues, this office advises the Secretary of State on U.S. efforts to address serious violations of international humanitarian law committed anywhere in the world, including the Balkans, Africa and Asia.
  • Office of Global Youth Issues (J/GYI): Oversees the effort to empower young people as economic and civil actors, and directly engage young people around the world.
  • Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP): The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons provides the tools to combat trafficking in persons and assists in the coordination of anti-trafficking efforts both worldwide and domestically.
  • Office of International Religious Freedom (J/IRF): supports the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, a position established by law. This office is the principal advisor to the President and the Secretary of State on international religious freedom policy. J/IRF develops and implements U.S. policy on religious freedom abroad, including in multilateral forums.

The bureau performs all corporate financial management services, programs, and systems activities, including delegated financial management authorities from the Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act of 1990. With offices in Washington, D.C. and Charleston, South Carolina, Global Financial Services provides financial services not only to the Department of State’s domestic and worldwide offices, but also a myriad of other federal agencies with overseas presence.
  • Office of the Executive Director (CGFS/EX): The Executive Director is the Bureau of Comptroller and Global Financial Services’ chief internal resource and administrative official responsible for the bureau’s resource allocation, planning and management systems that provide administrative support, and management coordination.
  • Government Accountability Office, Liaison Office (CGFS/GAO): The GAO works directly with the designated lead bureau point of contact to coordinate information-gathering activities. The Liaison advises the Department on the status of an ongoing study, coordinates GAO access to records and documents, and assesses GAO foreign travel.
  • Office of International Cooperative Administrative Support Services (CGFS/ICASS): ICASS is the principal means by which the U.S. Government provides and shares the cost of common administrative support at its more than 200 diplomatic and consular posts overseas. The ICASS system seeks to provide quality services at the lowest cost, while attempting to ensure that each agency bears the cost of its presence overseas.

CSO’S MISSION
The Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) helps U.S. diplomats prevent, respond to, and recover from conflict which disrupts and undermines long-term development and capacity building. We combine data analysis, qualitative assessment, and forecasting capabilities with data visualization techniques to address critical conflict dynamics. CSO brings partners and State Department capabilities together to assist, identify, and implement policy and programming activities. In short, we “map” conflict and identify and help fill “gaps” in policy and program responses.

CSO’S PRIORITIES
Preventing Destabilizing Violence
CSO addresses electoral violence, advises and monitors cease-fires and peace processes, and provides solutions to transitional civilian security challenges. To aid this critical effort, CSO created the Peace Process Support Network, consisting of 37 leading NGOs and academic institutions. These groups advise on building negotiating capacity, security guarantees, power sharing and decentralization arrangements, and peace agreement implementation. CSO also established the Stabilization Leaders Forum as a space for like-minded countries to collaborate on peacebuilding and fostering partnerships to prevent violence.

Preventing Violent Extremism
CSO produces analytic works and tools on the drivers of violent extremism. The CVE Assessment Framework identifies areas and communities at highest risk. The Monitoring and Evaluation Guide supports the integration of high-quality monitoring into programs. Analysis reports on priority countries establish baseline measures to track progress in support of the Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund. The global research network, RESOLVE (Researching Solutions to Violent Extremism) provides local research on causes of and resiliencies to violent extremism to promote effective policy and practice.

Preventing Mass Atrocities
Preventing large-scale, deliberate attacks against civilians requires a global effort and a wide range of options. As the State Department’s secretariat for atrocity prevention, CSO works to elevate attention to countries at risk of or experiencing deliberate, large-scale attacks against civilians. The bureau leads efforts to prevent and respond to atrocities by conducting risk analysis, developing diplomatic and programmatic recommendations, and measuring the impact of atrocity prevention initiatives.

CSO PERSONNEL
CSO personnel include 160 Civil Service Officers, Foreign Service Officers, U.S. military detailees, contractors, and interns. Our staff have a unique mix of skills with expertise in conflict mediation and resolution, foreign policy analysis, data visualization, and geospatial analysis.

The Bureau of Consular Affairs directs consular services relating to the protection, assistance, and documentation of American citizens abroad; conducts all passport activities, including documentation and control of travel of U.S. citizens and nationals; and administers laws, formulates regulations, and implements policies relating to the determination of U.S. citizenship and nationality. At U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, Consular Officers are responsible for issuance of immigrant and non-immigrant visas to foreign nationals seeking to travel or immigrate to the U.S. In addition, CA provides guidance and leadership on consular aspects of children’s services and fulfills U.S. treaty obligations relating to children. Consular Offices outside of Washington, D.C. include passport offices in the following locations: Atlanta, GA; Aurora, CO; Boston, MA; Buffalo, NY; Charleston, SC; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Detroit, MI; El Paso, TX; Honolulu, HI; Hot Springs, AR; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Norwalk, CT; Philadelphia, PA; Portsmouth, NH; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; St. Albans, VT; Tucson, AZ; and Seattle, WA.
  • Office of the Comptroller (CA/C): The Office of the Comptroller (CA/C) is the principal strategic and resource management office for the Bureau of Consular Affairs and is the primary liaison for the Department for the coordination of action and information related to bureau resources and the linkage between policy and those resources.
  • Office of Consular Systems and Technology (CA/CST): The Office of Consular Systems and Technology (CST) exists to develop, install, provide training for, manage and support CA-automated information processing systems. Through its seven branches, CST provides a full range of technology lifecycle development activities, and project management from inception through development.
  • Office of Executive Director (CA/EX): The Office of the Executive Director is responsible for providing the full range of management support for the Bureau of Consular Affairs, including management of the bureau’s budget, IT systems and infrastructure, human resources, and controlled consular supplies.
  • Office of Fraud Prevention Programs (CA/FPP): The Office of Fraud Prevention Programs is dedicated to providing resources, tools and information that will enhance Consular Officers’ ability to detect and deter passport and visa fraud.
  • Office of Policy Coordination and Public Affairs (CA/P): The Office of Policy Coordination and Public Affairs (CA/P) coordinates public information and the preparation of press guidance and information for the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
  • Overseas Citizens Services (CA/OCS): Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) in the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs is responsible for the protection and safety of U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad. OCS has three offices: the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (OCS/ACS), the Office of Children’s Issues (OCS/CI), and the Office of Legal Affairs (OCS/L).
  • Passport Services (CA/PPT): Passport Services is charged with issuing passports to U.S. citizens, providing information and services to American citizens about how to obtain, replace or change passports, and validating the identity and citizenship of applicants. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to issue or verify U.S. passports.
  • Visa Services (CA/VO): Visa Services Office functions and responsibilities encompass all aspects of visa policy, procedures and information related to U.S. visa issuance to foreign citizens, who are applying at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, seeking to come to America.

Formerly the Office of the Secretary’s Coordinator for Counterterrorism (S/CT), the Bureau of Counterterrorism coordinates the USG’s international counterterrorism policy to build the political will of foreign partners to combat terrorism and to assist our partners to develop practical capacities—in law enforcement, border control, and banking regulation, among others—to identify, interdict and defeat terrorists. CT engages with foreign governments and publics to reinforce policy goals; provides practical assistance to build law enforcement capacity (the Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program), counterterrorism finance skills (Counterterrorism Finance Program), and border control (Terrorist Interdiction Program); and builds and sustains USG counterterrorism capabilities through the Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST) and Technical Support Working Group (TSWG). CT engages in bilateral, multilateral, and public diplomacy to deter terrorism, develops justification for the U.S. Government’s biennial designation of foreign terrorist organizations, and leads the interagency Foreign Emergency Support Team that stands ready to deploy overseas on four hours notice in the event of an international terrorist incident.

DRL develops and implements U.S. policy on democracy, human rights, international labor, and religious freedom. It leads efforts to integrate foreign assistance programming with priority foreign policy objectives and is responsible for the annual distribution of approximately $100 million of democracy and human rights foreign assistance. DRL helps build global consensus in support of democratic rule and universal human rights principles and carries out project proposal evaluation, grant administration, budget negotiations, technical coordination, and project performance review and compliance for democracy promotion and human rights grants. DRL is best known for publishing the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which provide a comprehensive assessment of human rights around the world today.
  • Office of Country Reports and Asylum Affairs (DRL/CRA): is responsible for, among other things, preparing the Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, and Profiles of Asylum Claims and Country Conditions. The office is solely authorized to coordinate and convey to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR), which consists of immigration courts and judges, the Department’s advisory opinions on case- specific claims to asylum in the United States.
  • Office of Policy Planning and Public Diplomacy (DRL/PPD): supports bureau principals by providing concrete strategic planning support for all Congressional, public affairs, public diplomacy, and program planning activities. In coordination with the program unit, this office oversees the compilation, drafting, and submission of all strategic planning documents, including budget proposals and performance assessments for DRL grants programs.
  • Office for Africa (DRL/AF): responsible for democracy and human rights issues facing the African region.
  • Office for East Asia and Pacific (DRL/EAP): responsible for democracy and human rights issues facing the East Asian and Pacific region.
  • Office for Near East Asia (DRL/NEA): responsible for democracy and human rights issues facing the Middle East region.
  • Office for Western Hemisphere (DRL/WHA): responsible for democracy and human rights issues facing the Western Hemispheric region.
  • Office for South Central Asia (DRL/SCA): responsible for democracy and human rights issues facing the South Central Asian region.
  • Office of Global Programming (DRL/GP): manages the Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF), and additional programs and earmarks appropriated in the Democracy Fund, Economic Support Funds, FREEDOM Support Act funds, the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund and other Iraq supplemental appropriations, Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act funds, and other such appropriations as deemed necessary to meet DRL foreign policy objectives.
  • Office of Multilateral and Global Affairs (DRL/MLGA): formulates and implements U.S. Government human rights and democracy policies in multilateral organizations, including the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC); the UN General Assembly; the UN Security Council; the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; the European Union; the Organization of American States; the African Union; the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); and other regional organizations.
  • Office of International Labor Affairs (DRL/ILA): advises on policies and initiatives promoting core worker rights, specifically the four “fundamental rights” identified by the International Labor Organization.

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. Every U.S. diplomatic mission in the world operates under a security program designed and maintained by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. In the United States, DS investigates passport and visa fraud, conducts personnel security investigations, and protects the Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States. Within the bureau, there are several divisions that provide administrative services such as automated systems support, financial and personnel management, and other general services. DS has several engineering divisions in Washington, D.C. and an Engineering Service Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The bureau has field and resident offices in various cities throughout the U.S. staffed with special agents and criminal investigators. DS Field Offices are located in the following U.S. cities: Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; and Washington, D.C. DS Resident Offices are located in the following U.S. cities: Portsmouth, NH; St. Albans, VT; Detroit, MI; Minneapolis, MN; St. Louis, MO; Dallas, TX; El Paso, TX; West Los Angeles, CA (satellite office); Honolulu, HI; Phoenix, AZ; San Diego, CA; Tucson, AZ; Atlanta, GA; Charleston, SC (satellite office); San Juan, PR; New Orleans, LA; Hot Springs, AR; Bridgeport, CT (satellite office); Buffalo, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; and Greensboro, NC.

The Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs is charged with advising the Secretary of State and Under Secretary for Political Affairs on matters of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as dealing with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. relations with countries in that area. EAP offices include:
  • Office of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island Affairs (EAP/ANP): informs policy and liaises with U.S. Embassies in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific nations Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu.
  • Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs (EAP/CM): informs policy and liaises with U.S. Embassies and constituent posts in China and Mongolia.
  • Office of Regional and Security Policy (EAP/RSP): provides the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs with expertise on and coordination of a broad spectrum of functional, global, and trans-border issues pertaining to the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Office of Public Affairs (EAP/P): responsible for and coordinates the bureau’s media engagement and domestic public outreach.
  • Office of Japanese Affairs (EAP/J): is responsible for U.S. policy with Japan, and liaises with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.
  • Office of Mainland South Asia Affairs (EAP/MLS): informs policy and coordinates with U.S. Missions in Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.
  • Office of Maritime South Asia Affairs (EAP/MTS): informs policy and coordinates with U.S. Missions in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Timor-Leste.
  • Office of Korean Affairs (EAP/K): is responsible for U.S. policy toward North and South Korea, and liaises with the U.S. Embassy in South Korea.
  • Office of Public Diplomacy (EAP/PD): integrates public diplomacy planning, programming, and evaluation into the overall work of the EAP Bureau.
  • Office of Multilateral Affairs (EAP/MLA): coordinates policy and liaises with Asia-specific multilateral organizations including ASEAN, CSCAP, and ARF.
  • Office of Taiwan Coordination (EAP/TC): responsible for U.S. policy to Taiwan and liaises with the U.S. Interest Section in Taiwan.
  • Office of Economic Policy (EAP/EP): supports bureau leadership in advancing U.S. economic, trade, security and public health interests in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Office of the Executive Director (EAP/EX): responsible for resource management, human resources, and other executive functions for the bureau.

Develops and implements U.S. international economic policy relevant to protecting and advancing U.S. economic, political, and security interests. Pursues objectives by managing bilateral and multilateral relationships in the areas of trade, energy, transportation, communications, finance, and food resources policy.
  • Office of the Coordinator for Business Affairs (EB/CBA): Working closely with the Department of Commerce, advises on foreign policies affecting U.S. international economic competitiveness and ensures that the interests of the U.S. business community are properly considered in the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy.
  • International Communications and Information Policy (EB/CIP): Leads policy-making government wide on international telecommunications and information technology issues including the Internet, satellites, wireless spectrum allocations, etc.
  • Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions (EB/TFS): Formulates and manages overall U.S. Government economic sanctions policy and strategy; coordinates the use of economic sanctions as a tool of foreign policy, ensuring that U.S. commercial and competitiveness issues are factored into U.S. Government sanctions and export control decisions.
  • Policy Analysis and Public Diplomacy (EB/EPPD): Coordinates public affairs/public diplomacy outreach activities: prepares press guidance, provides media support for policy initiatives, responds to media requests and supports public diplomacy initiatives for foreign audiences on economic issues; does quantitative analyses on economic policy issues and makes policy recommendations based on those analyses.
  • International Finance and Development (EB/IFD): Works to promote global economic growth, responsible public financial management and development. IFD provides macroeconomic and financial analysis on all regions of the world, coordinates the U.S. Government’s agenda on debt restructuring and forgiveness, and interacts with the International Monetary Fund and multilateral development banks.
  • Trade Policy and Programs (EB/TPP): Advances economic prosperity by increasing trade, addressing and resolving trade disputes, strengthening intellectual property protection and enforcement, and promoting food security through increased agricultural productivity and improving access for U.S. goods and services abroad. TPP promotes U.S. trade policy objectives within the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), as well as regional trade organizations.
  • Transportation Affairs (EB/TRA): Provides commercial support for the U.S. aviation industry, which is uniquely dependent upon U.S. Government leadership to ensure its rights and market access in foreign countries; serves as the chief aviation negotiator for the Unites States; collaborates with other agencies to promote transportation safety, security, and environmental goals; and promotes commercial opportunities for the U.S. maritime industry.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs supports long-term national interest by fostering mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. Bureau academic and professional exchange programs identify future leaders and build a foundation of trust with current and potential leaders throughout the world. Bureau programs and activities include the Fulbright Program, the International Visitor Program, Citizen and Professional Exchange Programs, English Language Programs, Cultural Programs, Educational Advising, the Humphrey Fellowship Program, undergraduate exchanges including the Gilman Scholarship Program, and teacher exchanges. ECA offices include:
  • Office of Academic Programs (ECA/A): sponsors and oversees all academic programs funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and liaises with the higher education community. Academic Programs is comprised of three offices: the Office of Academic Exchange Programs, the Office of Global Educational Programs, and the Office of English Language Programs.
  • Office of Policy and Evaluation (ECA/P): The Office of Policy and Evaluation includes programs and functions that cut across all ECA programs and exchanges. The Policy Unit represents all of ECA at Department and interagency meetings and discussions, while the Evaluation Division conducts studies and performance measurement of all ECA programs. The Office of Alumni Affairs (ECA/P/A) seeks to engage alumni not only from ECA exchanges, but from other U.S. Government exchange programs as well. Finally, the Cultural Heritage Center (ECA/P/C) supports the foreign affairs functions of the U.S. Department of State related to the protection and preservation of cultural heritage.
  • Office of Professional and Cultural Exchanges (ECA/PE), comprised of two offices: Citizen Exchanges and International Visitors. These offices conduct a broad range of people-to- people exchanges in support of U.S. foreign policy priorities, and reach out to professionals in government, business, education, and nonprofit organizations, as well as high school students and representatives from the cultural and sports sectors.
  • Office of Citizen Exchanges (ECA/PE/C), comprised of four divisions: Cultural Programs, Professional Fellows, SportsUnited, and the Youth Programs. These divisions manage a variety of exchange programs which promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries in support of U.S. foreign policy priorities. The programs provide foreign participants the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the United States so they can better address the challenges facing their countries, and offer Americans the opportunity to learn about other cultures while sharing their expertise and experience with their foreign counterparts.
  • Office of International Visitors (ECA/PE/V): brings current and emerging foreign leaders to the U.S. to meet and confer with professional counterparts and to gain a more complete understanding of the U.S.
  • Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchanges (ECA/EC): Three offices for Private Sector Designation, Administration and Coordination and Compliance administer all aspects of the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) to provide foreign nationals with opportunities to participate in educational and cultural programs in the United States and then return home to share their experiences, and to encourage Americans to participate in educational and cultural programs in other countries. The three ECA/EC offices designate over 1,400 U.S. organizations to sponsor EVP exchange activities in 15 program categories, and monitor the sponsors’ adherence to federal EVP regulations. Designated EVP sponsors include government agencies, academic institutions, educational and cultural organizations, and corporations.

Leads the State Department in the government-wide effort to promote international energy security. This office unites U.S. diplomatic and programmatic efforts to build sustainable, transparent and predictable international markets for traditional hydrocarbons, civilian nuclear power, electricity, renewable energy, and energy efficiency that advance U.S. national security interests, environmental goals, and a strong national and global economy. The bureau also ensures that energy security is integrated into the nation’s foreign policy objectives and serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of State on energy security strategy, policy, operations and programs.

EUR conducts U.S. foreign relations with countries in Europe. It directs, coordinates, and supervises U.S. Government activities within these regions, including consular and administrative management issues, and U.S. assistance. In addition to working on country-specific issues, the bureau offers the opportunity to do multilateral work related to the European Union, NATO, the OSCE, the OECD, the G-8, and the Council of Europe. Applicants interested in these multilateral positions should specifically note such interest in their Statement of Interest.

Domestic

  • Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia (EUR/ACE): The Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia (EUR/ACE) oversees the economic, security, democracy, and humanitarian assistance of all U.S. Government agencies providing assistance to the former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe. When Congress passed the Support for Eastern European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 and The Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets (FREEDOM) Support Act (FSA) of 1992 to promote democratic and free market transitions in the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, it also established the position of Coordinator. For more than 20 years Coordinators have worked to promote this transition in 29 countries, stretching from Central Europe to Central Asia. Eleven Central and Eastern European nations have since "graduated" from U.S. non-security assistance; all of these countries have now joined the European Union and NATO. A Coordinator leads a team of Foreign Service, Civil Service, and contractor specialists that includes country assistance officers and experts in democracy promotion, justice sector and security programs, strategic planning, budgeting, and evaluation. In carrying out its responsibilities, the office closely works with U.S. embassies, State Department bureaus, other U.S. government agencies, bilateral and international donors, and nongovernmental organizations.
  • Office of Central European Affairs (EUR/CE): The Central Europe office covers 10 countries – Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Beyond diverse country-specific issues, our office has recently focused on regional topics such as energy security, the migration crisis, and security cooperation/NATO. Our interns usually help desk officers covering each country and also work on some regional projects. Tasks could include but are not limited to reviewing/collating information from embassy reporting, scheduling and attending/taking notes at meetings with ambassadors and other foreign visitors, drafting correspondence and other official messages, writing and/or ‘clearing’ briefing papers for senior officials to prepare them for meetings, and working on other projects according to your particular interests.
  • Office of South Central Europe (EUR/SCE): EUR/SCE is a 20-person office responsible for bilateral relations with Albania and six of the seven successor states of the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia). The policy focus of the office includes supporting and promoting democratization and political stability in the region, spurring economic reform and growth, and assisting aspirant nations’ efforts to further integrate into the Euro-Atlantic community.
  • EUR/Front Office: The Front Office is responsible for overall bureau supervision regarding policy implementation. The office manages the flow of information from the EUR desks to the Assistant Secretary - as well as the Secretary and Deputy Secretary. Interns would have a birds-eye view of the activities of the entire region and cross-cutting issues covered by all of the other offices in the bureau.
  • Office of the Coordinator of the U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia (EUR/ERA): Recommends and coordinates action and positions on Department policies related to the European Union (including the European Commission, European Council, and European Parliament) and the Council of Europe.
  • Office of Caucus Affairs and Regional Conflicts (EUR/CARC): Responsible for Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and supports the U.S. Co-Chair of the Minsk Group.
  • Office of Central European Affairs (EUR/CE): Responsible for Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
  • Office of Nordic and Baltic Affairs (EUR/NB): Responsible for Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.
  • Office of Policy and Global Issues (EUR/PGI): Responsible for policy formulation and substantive expertise about global issues within the EUR region; strategic planning; and Congressional relations.
  • Office of Press and Policy Outreach (EUR/PRESS): Develops strategies for presenting U.S. policies to media and audiences in the United States and articulates and shapes U.S. Government discourse on issues related to Europe and Eurasia.
  • Office of Public Diplomacy (EUR/PD): Involved with strategies for presenting U.S. policies, values, and culture abroad and coordinates with other State Department bureaus and other departments to identify, articulate, and shape U.S. Government discourse for European and Eurasian audiences in support of U.S. policies.
  • Office of Policy and Regional Affairs (EUR/PRA): Coordinates policy on cross-cutting nonproliferation and security issues, nuclear and strategic issues, missile defense, arms control, security assistance, sanctions, Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) policy and implementation, and international space cooperation.
  • Office of European Security and Political Affairs (EUR/RPM): Develops and coordinates policy on U.S. security interests in Europe, including those related to NATO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and European contributions to multinational military operations.
  • Office of Russian Affairs (EUR/RUS): Responsible for the policy and diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation.
  • Office of South Central European Affairs (EUR/SCE): Responsible for Albania, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.
  • Office of Southern European Affairs (EUR/SE): Responsible for Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey.
  • Office of Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarusian Affairs (EUR/UMB): Responsible for the policy and diplomatic relations with Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus.
  • Office of Western European Affairs (EUR/WE): Responsible for Andorra, Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, the Vatican, and the United Kingdom.

Overseas

  • U.S. Embassy Bern: U.S. Embassy Bern welcomes interns to our Political/Economic and Public Affairs sections and to the Office of the Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission. U.S. Embassy in Bern is the permanent U.S. diplomatic mission to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Embassy Bern interns with the Political/Economic section have the opportunity to contribute to Post reporting to Washington on issues related to economics and politics in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Working with the Front Office allows interns the opportunity to see the work of the entire mission and develop an understanding of the relationship between an Embassy and Washington in the policy development and implementation process. Working with Public Affairs, interns can work on press and social media, as well as on educational and cultural outreach to diverse audiences in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
  • U.S. Embassy Bucharest: Bucharest Romania is the best place for a Department of State internship that you may never have thought of! The Mission is actively involved in supporting security, shared prosperity, and promoting democracy and rule of law in Romania, as well as leadership within the Embassy. The work is not only interesting, but substantively contributes to the bilateral relationship with this important NATO ally. Romania is a hidden gem in Europe – with spectacular mountains, medieval castles, the Danube Delta, Black Sea resorts, and modern city night life. And although a member of the EU, they are not yet on the Euro, which means your European internship will cost you significantly less here than it will in the rest of the EU. The Greeks, the Romans, the Ottomans, the Austro-Hungarians – everyone wanted to be in Romania and so should you.
  • U.S. Embassy Croatia: U.S. Embassy in Zagreb welcomes interns to our Public Affairs, Management and Political/Economic section. Responsibilities and duties may vary considerably depending on the season and office at which you are assigned to. In the Public Affairs section you will assist in planning and executing cultural events, social media content development as well as participate in our outreach program to youth, students and exchange program alumni. Political/Economic section focuses on researching issues in Croatia and the surrounding region, including rule of law, anti-corruption and regional cooperation. Working in the Management section will give you a close view of how the Embassy works and supports all other sections. Interns will experience being a part of large scale visits and events and are integrated into all aspects of Embassy life.
  • U.S. Embassy Dublin: Embassy Dublin, Ireland can offer an exciting, productive and challenging opportunity to interns. Interns can expect to be assigned to an appropriate office upon arrival at Post. Participating offices would include, but not limited to, Consular Office, Public Diplomacy, Political Section or the Management Section. While not mandatory, it would be helpful to have interns with strong writing skills and knowledge of the politics and culture of Ireland. All of our interns can expect to be involved fully in their assigned office with duties/assignments being varied yet stimulating. Each intern will be supported by the Post Intern Coordinator, who will be available to provide information and assist with adjusting to life at the Embassy. While housing is the responsibility of the intern to secure, the Post Intern Coordinator would assist the intern in identifying suitable accommodation once they have been granted clearance to intern at Embassy Dublin. Our previous interns have described their time at Embassy Dublin as a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’, ‘hands on’ and a ‘thoroughly enjoyable experience.’ We look forward to welcoming the arrival of new interns to Embassy Dublin, Ireland!
  • U.S. Embassy Yerevan: The Republic of Armenia is an emerging democracy with a substantial diaspora in the United States. The two countries enjoy close ties. The United States provides an extensive assistance package to Armenia, which is a post-Soviet state still undergoing political and economic reform. Interns will have the opportunity to work in a variety of sections in the Embassy where they will be given an outstanding opportunity for an inside-view of the operations and management of an U.S. Embassy abroad. All internships offer close working contact with the embassy staff and give interns a clear taste of life in the Foreign Service.”
  • U.S. Embassy Holy See (The Vatican): The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See welcomes interns in both its Political-Economic and Public Diplomacy sections. Interns gain in-depth knowledge of the Vatican’s role in international affairs by working closely with Embassy staff to engage the Holy See on a range of shared priorities, including promoting religious freedom, advancing interreligious dialogue, and combatting trafficking in persons. Interns have the opportunity to work with diplomats throughout the Embassy, up to and including the Ambassador, on substantive projects. Political-Economic section interns conduct research on a variety of countries and global issues, draft reporting cables, and attend meetings and conferences with Vatican officials and other diplomats. Public Diplomacy section interns play a critical role in drafting the Embassy’s daily news product, creating social media content, and assisting with cultural events and programs.
  • U.S. Embassy Copenhagen: An internship at the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen will give an American student excellent insights into the workings of a U.S. diplomatic mission as well as a great intercultural experience. Embassy Copenhagen values and appreciates the input and ideas students can provide at a workplace; at the same time we acknowledge the need for students to obtain firsthand experience in the labor market before completing their studies. We place great value on international and intercultural experience. For those reasons, U.S. Embassy Copenhagen offers a variety of internships within our Political/Economic Section, Environmental Scientific Technology & Health Office, Consular Affairs Section, Regional Security Office, Public Diplomacy Section, and Management Affairs Section. We offer an intern a dynamic and interesting workplace in a highly international environment, with the opportunity for a great variety of tasks and networking opportunities.
  • U.S. Embassy Valletta: The Republic of Malta is a Southern European republic consisting of an archipelago situated in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, 50 miles south of Sicily. The population is around 400,000. Malta covers just over 122 square miles in land area, making it the European Union’s smallest member state and one of the world's smallest and most densely populated nations. The capital city of Malta is Valletta and the two official languages are Maltese and English. Embassy Valletta serves as the U.S. government’s mission to Malta, with a mission focused on improving Mediterranean regional security, strengthening bilateral U.S.-Maltese commercial ties, promoting shared values of tolerance and inclusion, and protecting the lives and serving the interests of U.S. citizens in Malta. An internship at Embassy Valletta would expose interns to the day-to-day duties and responsibilities of a Foreign Service Officer as interns regularly participate in high level meetings, write cables, and interact with the Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission on a daily basis.
  • U.S. Mission Italy: U.S. Mission Italy consists of Embassy Rome, U.S. Mission to the United Nations Agencies in Rome, Embassy to the Holy See and Consulates General Milan, Naples and Florence. The United States and Italy share strong bilateral relations. Italy is a member of NATO and is a founding member of the European Union. Intern positions are generally offered in the Consular, Executive, Political, Economic, ESTH (Environmental, Science, Technology & Health), Public Affairs sections. Public Affairs interns will be enriched by challenging and rewarding experiences which include planning and organizing press conferences and media events as well as programs for U.S. government-sponsored speakers and other cultural events. In the Consular section, interns assist with a full range of services to American citizens living in or traveling to Italy including voting, customs, local health resources and processing of non-immigrant visa applications of nationals from over 130 countries. In the Political-Economic-ESTH section, interns contribute in research and drafting reports on topics that cover political and economic policy issues, investments in Italy, U.S. exports, Italian domestic and Foreign policy developments as well as environment-related issues: renewable energy, climate change, carbon emissions, and land/sea wildlife regulation, space cooperation, biotechnology, particle physics, U.S. - Italian scientific cooperation and the Italian government's promotion of scientific advancement. Health issues include Avian Influenza and health-related aspects of bioterrorism. Mission Italy has a wide range of options for interns whether they serve at one of the three Embassies in Rome or one of our consulates in Milan, Naples and Florence. The U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies (USUN) in Rome is the link between the U.S. Government and the UN Rome-based food/agriculture and other international organizations (IOs). The United States is the largest country donor at these IOs and the Mission participates in all budget and governance oversight committees. USUN Rome contributes to policy formulation and program prioritization at the IOs on issues such as food security, refugee/famine assistance, commercial law harmonization, humanitarian and gender issues, nutrition, water and natural resource management, oceans issues, biotechnology, and infectious diseases. Interns will have the opportunity to work on a variety of analytical and public diplomacy related tasks and attend UN meetings, conferences, press events, and negotiations. Interns have the opportunity to assist multilateral diplomatic activities that advance U.S. policies and support efforts of the Rome-based international food and agricultural organizations.
  • U.S. Mission Poland: U.S. Mission Poland consists of Embassy Warsaw and Consulate General Krakow. Poland is a stalwart ally in Central Europe and one of the United States’ strongest partners on the continent in fostering transatlantic security and prosperity regionally, throughout Europe, and the world. The United States and Poland partner closely on issues such as NATO capabilities, counterterrorism, nonproliferation, missile defense, human rights, economic growth and innovation, energy security, and regional cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe. Intern positions are historically offered in the Consular, Political, Economic, Public Affairs, and Management Sections and provide students an enriching experience ranging from assisting visa applicants, drafting cables on various issues, writing daily news briefs, participating in various Mission outreach initiatives, and supporting high level visits. Mission Poland has seen two Presidential visits in the last two years as well as numerous other high level visits, and Interns have the opportunity to work on these historic events. Mission Poland has an active and engaged Embassy/Consulate community, and Interns are welcome and encouraged to attend Mission sponsored social events. Interns will find living in Warsaw and Krakow comfortable as both are modern European cities offering an array of restaurant, cultural, and shopping options. Cost of living is relatively low in Poland, especially in comparison to many western European countries. Many people living in the major Polish cities will speak some English. Poland itself has a fascinating history and numerous tourism options. The public transportation system via bus, tram, metro, and train makes it easy to explore Poland and adds to the overall experience as a Mission Poland Intern.
  • United States Mission to Bulgaria: The men and women of the United States Mission to Bulgaria are committed to strengthening the partnership between the United States and Bulgaria. Using the highest standards of professional excellence and personal integrity, we focus our efforts in three priority areas:
    • Security: As NATO allies, we seek to enhance our mutual security as well as regional and international stability;
    • Prosperity: As commercial partners, we work to increase bilateral trade and investment that promote stable growth in both economies; and
    • Democracy: As democratic societies, we cooperate to expand good governance and strengthen the rule of law within Bulgaria.
  • U.S. Embassy Budapest: Embassy Budapest would like to host five (5) interns. Intern positions will be available in the following sections: Consular, Political/Economic (POL/ECON), Public Affairs (PAS), Environmental, Science & Technology and Health (ESTH) and the Regional Security Office (RSO). While duties vary with each section, all interns will receive valuable experience and make specific contributions while learning the nuts and bolts of the practice of diplomacy. In the Consular section summer interns have an unmissable opportunity to get first-hand experience with U.S. immigration law and policy. Working together with State Department officers, interns in the Political/Economic section typically conduct research on priority issues, help organize events and visits with high level officials, and draft concise analyses of political and economic developments. At the same time, we pair interns with officers so they can experience firsthand the conduct of foreign affairs. In Public Affairs, interns will support a busy media section, focusing on social and online media, but also assisting with press and cultural engagement as needed. The intern would likely help with press events, daily press summaries and with organizing cultural events. Environmental, Science & Technology and Health, interns in ESTH will have a unique opportunity to learn about ESTH programs, including, but not limited to, analyzing the impact of governmental policies and programs on the environment, innovation, and health. Regional Security Office interns will perform name checks online using Consular and RSO software, issue badges to newcomers, replace badges for recertified locally employed staff members and replace any worn or broken badges. Interns will experience the security aspect of an Embassy first hand.
  • U.S. Tri-Mission Brussels: The U.S. Tri-Mission Brussels is comprised of three distinct Missions, each with its own specific role. The Mission of the United States Embassy to the Kingdom of Belgium is to advance the interests of the United States, and to serve and protect Belgium. The Embassy reports and analyzes developments in Belgium of concern to the United States, and advances a broad range of U.S. policy initiatives. The Embassy promotes United States' economic and commercial interests, and the export of American agricultural and industrial products and services, and otherwise assists American business, workers and investors. The Embassy engages the government and a broad range of organizations and individuals in Belgium to promote shared values. Among others, these include individual freedom, human rights and democracy and the rule of law. The U.S. Mission to NATO (USNATO) is the official representation of the United States to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It is located at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Twelve countries, including the United States, founded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on April 4th, 1949. An intergovernmental military alliance that emphasizes collective defense, NATO recently celebrated its 60th anniversary and has grown its membership to include 28 democratic countries throughout North America and Europe. The U.S. Mission to NATO works to advance U.S. national security and the security of our NATO Allies through multinational collaboration on key issues such as Afghanistan, Russia, piracy, missile defense and the Balkans. The U.S. Mission to the European Union (USEU) manages the permanent relationship between the United States and the European Union. The relationship to the EU Presidency, which rotates every six months, is managed by the U.S. embassy in the member state that holds the presidency. USEU is located in Brussels, Belgium, and is separate from the other two U.S. missions in Brussels, Embassy Brussels and the U.S. Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (USNATO).
  • U.S. Mission Geneva: The United States Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva advances U.S. policy on the front lines of multilateral diplomacy at over 100 international organizations in Geneva. U.S. Mission personnel engage daily on issues as diverse as refugee crises, global health, management, international law, economic development, trade, the environment, arms control and human rights. The fundamental job of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and Related Agencies in Geneva is to protect the economic interests, national security and cultural and humanitarian values of the U.S. To do this, we interact with Geneva-based agencies through a combination of diplomacy, funding, and supervision. Specifically, we work with other states and interested parties to influence the direction of these agencies’ operations, make contributes to these agencies’ budgets, and supervise these agencies’ strategic planning, management, and budget processes. Through interagency engagement across these three lines of effort, we can ensure that the Geneva-based multilateral system is as effective, transparent and accountable as possible. The work of all our staff, including Foreign Service Officers, locally employed staff, and interns, touches the entire world and enhances the reputation, security and prosperity of the American people.
  • U.S. Mission to the Netherlands: Diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and the United States go back to 1782, which is the single longest unbroken diplomatic relation with the United States. Candidates have two opportunities for internships at the U.S. Mission in the Netherlands: the Embassy in The Hague and the Consulate General in Amsterdam. The Embassy in The Hague promotes strong bilateral ties between the United States and the Netherlands and works actively to increase cooperation on counter terrorism, enhance U.S. economic prosperity, and fight international crime and drugs. It carries out these tasks by working with the Netherlands as a NATO and coalition partner; by promoting shared goals between the U.S. and the EU, of which the Netherlands is a member; by advocating U.S. trade policy goals and U.S. business and commercial interests; and by working with law enforcement agencies in the Netherlands to fight transnational crime. The Consulate General in Amsterdam provides assistance to American citizens residing in or visiting the Netherlands and visa services for temporary visitors and immigrants to the United States. The Consulate General in Amsterdam also promotes our bilateral ties with the Netherlands in their capital region.
  • U.S. Embassy Tbilisi: The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi was established April 23, 1992 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Our Mission is to bolster democratic and participatory governance in Georgia, foster institutions that uphold and enforce the rule of law, improve the quality and delivery of social services, promote integration with the NATO, increase regional cooperation, lay the groundwork for a sustainable resolution of conflicts with the separatist regions based on Georgia’s territorial integrity, and help Georgia to achieve sustainable economic growth. An internship with our Embassy will afford you the opportunity to learn about the inner works of a diplomatic mission abroad gain invaluable experience in one of the three of our most dynamic sections: Political /Economic, Public Diplomacy and Regional Security Office. Interns can analyze and report on significant events and trends in Georgian domestic politics (elections, political parties, regional relations, media, human rights etc.), participate in a number of academic, cultural and information activities, and contribute to the implementation of the security programs.
  • U.S. Embassy Vilnius: The U.S. Embassy in Vilnius welcomes interns in our Consular, Political-Economic and Public Affairs Sections. The Baltic region is on the frontline of both NATO and the European Union and interns here will gain in-depth knowledge of the important political and security roles played by Lithuania. Consular interns help consular officers protect national security and promote legitimate travel to the United States by preparing validation studies on travel trends. Political-Economic section interns have the opportunity to assist Embassy staff in researching and drafting reports on a variety of issues including economic, energy, corruption, governance, international relations, human rights and minority issues. Public Affairs interns help to counteract disinformation campaigns and promote a positive image of the U.S. by coordinating cultural events and public outreach programs, and contributing to the embassy’s social media platforms.
  • U.S. Embassy Skopje: The capital of Macedonia is Skopje. It has a population of approximately 600,000 inhabitants. Skopje is a fairly small modern city that is becoming an important diplomatic center in the Balkans. It plays a vital role in the cultural and academic life of the country because it is the political and economic center of Macedonia. It houses the headquarters of all state institutions and all major religious communities in the country. More than 1,000 shops, cafes, restaurants, and other services operate in and around the city. Skopje provides opportunities for both indoor and outdoor sports. Soccer and basketball are popular for all ages. The city offers tennis courts, soccer stadiums, and basketball stadiums. Skopje's Old Bazaar is located on the left bank of the Vardar River. Stretching over several blocks, it has long been an attractive part of town for artists and visitors. Many poems have been written about the covered bazaar, which was once divided into 18 different bazaars, one for each traditional craft. However, with the passage of time, most crafts have died out and only a few expert craftsmen - shoemakers, goldsmiths, and coppersmiths - remain. Skopje is an important tourist center in the Balkans. In addition to the charming Old Town and the Kale Fortress on a hill overlooking the city, Skopje attracts guests for its rare cultural and historical monuments. The Church of the Holy Savior St. Spas, located in the Old Town, is famous for its wood-carved iconostasis and icons from the 18th and 19th centuries. It also shelters the tom of Goce Delcev, the ideologist of the Macedonian National Liberation movement. In addition, the Izet Begovata and the Mustafa Pasha mosques in Old Town highlight traditional Islamic architecture and culture. Skopje has a rich cultural life, which includes concerts, theaters, cinemas, opera and ballets. The Macedonian National Philharmonic performs at the National Theater. Many festivals are held throughout the year in Skopje and other cities. One major highlight is the Skopje International Jazz Festival held in October, which hosts many famous American musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Chico Rea, BB King, and Ray Charles. Some of the other popular festivals include the Ohrid summer festival, the Struga poetry evenings, and various art festivals. The political scene in Skopje has been very active the last few years, creating a dynamic environment for reporting. Interns will be directly involved in outreach and Diplomacy efforts within their sections at the Embassy. Housing is provided for interns in Skopje.
  • Luxembourg: The Information Resource Management section requests an intern with a good understanding of computer networks, network security and Microsoft Office/SharePoint. The ideal candidate will have customer service skills to assist users in troubleshooting hardware and software issues. Duties will include installing and configuring software, workstations, printers and other peripherals as well as responding to user trouble tickets. The intern will also complete other duties as assigned, including assisting Post in managing unclassified pouch, mail services, landline/mobile telephones, inventory, and maintenance/updating of our SharePoint site.

The Family Liaison Office delivers services in the areas of the Community Liaison Office Program, Family Member Employment, Crisis Management, Support for Unaccompanied Tours, Education and Youth Services, and Expeditious Naturalization Support through online and in-office resources, training opportunities, planning seminars, presentations, publications, and the Community Liaison Office (CLO) program at our overseas posts.

The Office of Fine Arts (M/FA) manages the collection of 5,000 museum-caliber objects of American furniture, paintings, and decorative arts of the period 1750 to 1825. An intern in the office can expect to assist with various aspects of registrarial and collections management, including maintaining computer databases, constructing photography files, and inter-relational records in object, conservation, publicity and research files. Additional relevant subject areas include American fine and decorative arts history, museum studies and library science, special collection management and archives. The office is also involved with collections registration, management and artwork conservation activities.

Housed at the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center, FSI trains Department of State and other U.S. Government agency employees involved in foreign affairs and encourages research and other studies of new and developing areas of foreign policy concerns. FSI develops training materials for total curriculum including video and multimedia-based training courses. A critical function of FSI is to provide intensive instruction in over 60 languages, for Foreign Service Officers and other government employees assigned overseas. FSI also offers a variety of area studies courses that familiarize Foreign Service personnel with the specific geographic/cultural area to which they are assigned. The Institute also assists personnel and their families going to, or returning from, overseas assignments in cross- cultural and lifestyle adaptation, in addition to family and work adjustment/readjustment.
  • Leadership and Management School (FSI/LMS): The Leadership and Management School offers mandatory and elective leadership and management training for supervisors and managers from entry to executive levels, roundtables and policy seminars for senior leaders, and crisis management training overseas and at the Shultz Center. LMS oversees the Leadership and Managing Training Continuum to ensure participation by Foreign Service and Civil Service employees and works with bureaus and overseas missions to improve organizational effectiveness and crisis management.
  • Office of Public Affairs (FSI/OPA): The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Office of Public Affairs is a fast-paced, creative and collaborative office that offers an internship experience providing insight into public diplomacy, diplomatic training and foreign affairs. The office manages FSI’s Congressional Affairs and media relations, oversees the bureau’s social media and public-facing digital engagement, and spearheads a number of programmatic campaigns and initiatives such as the Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy initiative. For additional background on our work, intern applicants can refer to www.state.gov/fsi and follow links to our social media channels.
  • School of Applied Information Technology (FSI/SAIT): The School of Applied Information Technology provides training for the Department of State’s IT workforce, end-user training and IRM Tradecraft training for all levels at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI). In addition, SAIT provides training to users from other federal agencies and contractor employees on a reimbursement basis.
  • School of Language Studies (FSI/SLS): The School of Language Studies helps students enhance their language learning skills as an aid in their FSI studies and as a foundation for advancing their learning while at post. In this office, Foreign Service Officers study over 70 languages split into different areas: East Asian and Pacific languages (EAP), European and African languages (EUA), Near East, Central, and South Asian languages (NEA), Romance languages (ROM), Slavic, Pashto, and Persian languages (SPP).
  • School of Professional and Area Studies (FSI/SPAS): The School of Professional and Area Studies (SPAS) provides tradecraft, orientation, and area studies training for State Department employees, as well as employees from other U.S. government agencies. SPAS training prepares the full range of foreign affairs professionals to successfully advance U.S. government foreign policy goals and objectives by providing world class orientation and area studies training to the broadest possible community of Foreign and Civil Service professionals, as well as appropriate professional tradecraft training across all relevant fields. SPAS works with strategic partners across the Department of State, the U.S. government, and the academic and private sectors to continually deliver the highest quality training utilizing the latest knowledge about adult professional learning. SPAS provides hundreds of professional courses to all categories of Department personnel in a wide range of topics, namely, Orientation, Area Studies, Management, Consular, Public Diplomacy, Political, Economic/Commercial, and Office Management.
  • Transition Center (FSI/TC): The Transition Center (FSI/TC) helps prepare employees and their family members for effectiveness in the foreign affairs community transitions throughout, and after, their careers. It is comprised of the Training Division (TC/T), the Overseas Briefing Center (OBC), and the Career Transition Center (CTC).

Russia
The Global Engagement Center’s Russia Team counters Russian disinformation and propaganda globally. To assist in carrying out this broad mandate, GEC/Russia seeks a motivated intern to support the team through research, scheduling and notetaking at meetings, drafting internal memoranda, reviewing and collating relevant information from media and other sources, escorting and registering visitors, other administrative tasks, and working on projects tailored to the intern’s particular interests and experience. At the completion of the internship, the individual should have a thorough understanding of Department of State and interagency organization and coordination, and Russian propaganda and disinformation. An ideal candidate is passionate about foreign policy and U.S.-Russia relations. Superior writing ability is required. Experience with data analysis and/or foreign languages is useful but not a requirement.

Technology Engagement (TET)
The Global Engagement Center (GEC) leads, coordinates, and integrates efforts of the federal government to expose and counter foreign state and non-state propaganda and disinformation efforts aimed at undermining the policies, security, or stability of the United States and its partners. The GEC also has a mandate to facilitate the use of a wide range of technologies and techniques by sharing expertise among federal departments and agencies, seeking expertise from external sources, and implementing best practices. The GEC's Technology Engagement Team (TET) acts in support of this mission by assessing and integrating technologies that assist in countering propaganda and disinformation (CPD). Given the TET’s wide range of responsibilities, an intern to our organization will have the opportunity to engage in various exciting initiatives and programs. Tasks could include, but are not limited to: writing summaries on emerging technologies; assisting with outreach initiatives; identifying CPD tools or technologies from around the globe that can assist the U.S. interagency community and foreign partners; analyzing market research on emerging tools and threats; identifying and categorizing disinformation challenges faced by members of the interagency; drafting messages and other correspondence; and additional projects based on the interests and particular background of the individual intern.

Analytics and Research (A&R)
The GEC's Academic and Think-Tank Outreach Unit, as part of the Analytics and Research Team, seeks to enable and support data-driven counter disinformation decision making, programming, and strategic planning. As such, the Unit engages with its network of university and think-tank based researchers to exchange information though research collaborations, academic seminars, and joint programs. We are looking for one (1) graduate level student intern, with outstanding interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills to help us manage our outreach activities and research collaborations.

Policy, Plans, and Operations (PPO)

  • I2C2
    The Interagency and International Coordination Cell (I2C2) provides a forum and procedures for ensuring common situational awareness, exchanges of information, and collaborative planning between the Global Engagement Center (GEC) and interagency, international, and private sector partners concerning foreign disinformation and propaganda efforts against the U.S, our allies, and partner nations.
    An ideal intern dedicated to the I2C2 will bring knowledge and experience with audio/video platforms and equipment and familiarity with social media products and applications. The intern’s tasks could include, but will not be limited to, the preparation of, set up and facilitation of bi-monthly Secure and non-secure Video Teleconferences or virtual venues hosted by the I2C2 and similar venues co-hosted by the team with GEC partners. Other tasks could include the review and collation of information, schedule and attendance of meetings and taking notes. An intern that is IT savvy and familiar with the Microsoft Suite of products is desirable and one that is acquainted with the basics of analytical research would be a bonus.
  • NET
    The Global Engagement Center’s (GEC) “Network Engagement & Training (NET)” Cell oversees and coordinates organization- and U.S. government-wide efforts to establish, train, connect, mobilize, and maintain active networks of foreign civil society influencers and government communicators across all threat areas, including the GEC’s foreign partner “Messaging Centers.” These foreign networks and “Messaging Centers” serve as the GEC’s and U.S. government’s ongoing partners in countering propaganda and disinformation (CPD) efforts sponsored by both state and non-state actors.
    The ideal intern for the NET Cell will bring knowledge and experience in digital community engagement, maintenance, and activation across a variety of social media platforms. Working closely with all GEC teams and select DoS Bureaus, his/her tasks may include, but will not be limited to:
    • Identifying key themes related to countering propaganda and disinformation (CPD) that generate the most network engagement/interest;
    • Determining optimal social media platforms/channels for high-priority foreign partner networks;
    • Analyzing types of disinformation-related content, news, and research that will build shared situational awareness and optimize network member engagement;
    • Connecting networks across sectors (e.g. connecting foreign government communicators to civil society influencers to ensure “whole-of-community” strategies for addressing disinformation).
    • Supporting campaign coordination and execution in partnership with key partner networks;
    • Utilizing customer relationship management (CRM) software to tag/catalogue influencer networks interests, sectors, etc.

Led by the Director General of the Foreign Service and Director for Global Talent Management (GTM), GTM carries out recruitment and examination for the Foreign Service. GTM develops and administers personnel policies and procedures of the Department, including assignments, career development, employee relations and retirement programs for both Foreign and Civil Service. GTM also coordinates the Department’s student employment programs, including the U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program and Pathways Internships. GTM publishes the Department’s monthly magazine for employees worldwide.
  • Office of the Director General (GTM/DGHR): supports the DG in accomplishing the mission of the Bureau of Global Talent Management. The Bureau of Global Talent Management (GTM) has the critical responsibility of hiring, developing, assigning, and supporting the Department of State’s greatest assets—our people. The Bureau of Global Talent Management works to provide the Department of State with fast, fair, transparent, and compassionate service, and continually strives to serve the Department better.
  • Office of Policy Coordination (GTM/PC): supports the Director General on bureau-wide issues and initiatives, serving as incubator, initiator, coordinator, and facilitator for HR policies. The staff works directly with the GTM Front Office to identify problems, brainstorm new policy initiatives, prepare for high-level decision making, and manage bureau-wide and department- wide human resources policies from inception to implementation.
  • Executive Office (GTM/EX): serves as the corporate face to a worldwide human resources management effort, providing continuous support to GTM for budget execution and formulation, travel, general services, personnel, training, internal systems, and priority GTM projects.
  • Career Development and Assignments (GTM/CDA): responsible for counseling and assigning over 12,556 Foreign Service generalists and specialists as well as non-FS personnel serving in FS positions overseas.
  • Office of Civil Service Talent Management (GTM/CSTM): primary functions and activities are staffing, career development, performance management, executive resources management, position classification, policy development, and merit systems oversight.
  • Office of Employee Relations (GTM/ER): promotes the effective use of Department human resources by developing, implementing and promoting quality of life policy and programs, maintaining human resources regulations, administering the discipline process, and communicating to employees on the work of Department people and programs.
  • Family Liaison Office (GTM/FLO): delivers services in the areas of the Community Liaison Office Program, Family Member Employment, Crisis Management, Support for Unaccompanied Tours, Education and Youth Services, and Expeditious Naturalization Support through online and in-office resources, training opportunities, planning seminars, presentations, publications, and the Community Liaison Office (CLO) program at our overseas posts.
  • Grievance Staff (GTM/G): investigates grievances and prepares recommendations, in the form of decision letters and settlement agreements, for the signature of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for GTM, for the resolution of grievances submitted under the Foreign Service Grievance System, the Civil Service Administrative Grievance System and the American Federation of Government Employees.
  • Human Resources Service Provider (GTM/HRSP): works strategically with the Global Talent Management community in identifying and responding to its changing needs. GTM/HRSP provides leadership and guidance in the development, implementation, and equitable administration of policies and procedures, thus promoting a positive work environment.
  • Human Resources Talent Services (GTM/TS): develops, coordinates, and administers the policies and procedures required to establish an integrated human resources tiered service delivery system for the Department. The system focuses on four interrelated tiers of service— online self-service tools, the GTM Service Center, Bureau GTM Service Providers, and the Bureau of Global Talent Management Corporate Office. It builds on existing GTM resources to strengthen and integrate human resources across the Department to better serve employees, enhance support to managers, and more efficiently use increasingly scarce HR resources.
  • Office of Casualty Assistance (GTM/OCA): provides administrative assistance and ongoing support following the death of a direct-hire U.S. citizen Department of State employee serving abroad or their family member, or of a Department of State employee in the United States.
  • Office of Overseas Employment (GTM/OE): formulates policies, regulations, systems and programs for the overseas employment of more than 56,000 Locally Employed Staff and family members serving the Department of State and other U.S. Government agencies at 170 U.S. Missions abroad.
  • Office of Performance Evaluation (GTM/PE): administers a Foreign Service performance evaluation system which fairly measures employee performance and potential, encourages honest feedback on employee performance and skills, distinguishes fairly between strong, average and weak performers, fosters tenure and promotion based on merit, rewards meritorious service, and separates employees who fail to meet standards.
  • Office of Talent Acquisition (GTM/TAC): GTM/TAC manages and coordinates the recruitment, examination, and selection and hiring of new Foreign Service human resources employees for the Department. Within GTM/TAC is the Office of Student Programs, which is responsible for managing pre-employment security, unpaid internship placements, fellowships, and orientations for all incoming unpaid students each season.
  • Office of Retirement (GTM/RET): administers the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System and the Foreign Service Pension System for participants of the Department of State and other foreign affairs agencies. The office issues policies and regulations and operates automated systems to manage these programs. GTM/RET determines eligibility for benefits and authorizes payment, adjustment, and termination of benefits under these programs and counsels U.S. Foreign Service employees and their families about these programs.
  • Office of Organization and Talent Analytics (GTM/OTA): provides a number of services in the areas of resource management, workforce planning, classification policy and compensation policy. GTM/OTA provides overall leadership and coordination in the development and implementation of policies, plans, procedures, and standards for classification of Foreign Service positions domestically and abroad, and for senior Foreign Service positions worldwide.
  • State Magazine (GTM/SMG): The flagship monthly periodical of the U.S. Department of State, State Magazine provides a critical window into Department operations for employees, government leaders, members of the American public, and host-country nationals in the 170+ countries where American diplomats serve around the world. As the Department adapts to new challenges in the 21st century, State Magazine will be there every step of the way, documenting and reporting on the work of those who advance U.S. foreign policy objectives through diplomacy.

The mission of the Bureau of Information Resource Management is to rapidly and securely deliver anytime, anywhere, the knowledge resources and Information Technology services needed for the Department of State’s diplomatic team worldwide to accomplish the foreign affairs mission of the United States. This mission requires a workforce with a diverse skill set that combines strong technical skills with the ability to think analytically and use Information Technology as a strategic tool. Key offices include:
  • Office of External Affairs (IRM/EA): establishes, develops and expands long-term strategic and collaborative relationships with key U.S. and foreign government, industry, and multinational partners, engaging in national and international cyber security initiatives.
  • Strategic Planning Office (IRM/SPO): has a broad scope that requires a wide variety of IT skills and disciplines. Applicants will have a unique opportunity to view the entire Department of State IT landscape and to interact with IT managers and professionals throughout IRM and other bureaus.
  • Systems Integration Office (IRM/SIO): offers Department-wide applications and systems development and maintenance, systems integration services, data management, and a variety of innovative technologies.
  • Messaging Systems Office (IRM/MSO): develops, tests, and manages classified and unclassified mobile and desktop messaging systems that allow effective communications between all elements of the Department.
  • Office of IT Infrastructure (IRM/ITI): directs and manages the development, maintenance, installation, modernization and operations of the Department’s physical IT.
  • Enterprise Network Management (IRM/ENM): provides a secure global network and infrastructure, safe from intentional attack by any aggressor, and improves network reliability, customer response times, and troubleshooting.
  • Information Assurance (IRM/IA): performs the necessary Certification and Accreditation of both networks and applications; makes information assurance policy decisions, and interprets policy based on federal regulations and the Department’s internal regulations.

INR is a bureau of the Department of State and a member of the Intelligence Community (IC). The Bureau of Intelligence and Research's (INR) primary mission is to harness intelligence to serve U.S. diplomacy. Secretary of State George Marshall established INR in 1947. INR is a direct descendant of the Office of Strategic Services Research Department and the oldest civilian intelligence element in the U.S. Government. Drawing on all-source intelligence, INR provides value-added independent analysis of events to U.S. State Department policymakers; ensures that intelligence activities support foreign policy and national security purposes; and serves as the focal point in the State Department for ensuring policy review of sensitive counterintelligence and law enforcement activities around the world. The bureau directs the Department’s program of intelligence analysis and research, conducts liaison with the Intelligence Community, and represents the Department on committees and in interagency intelligence groups. The Bureau of Intelligence and Research also analyzes geographical and international boundary issues. INR fulfills its mission through three key activities:

All-Source Analysis

INR is one of three all-source analytical units in the IC. INR analysts focus primarily on supporting diplomats and diplomacy with a wide range of information and analyses. INR participates in the production of joint IC products, usually under the auspices of the National Intelligence Council (NIC), and in the drafting and coordinating of articles for the President’s Daily Briefing (PDB). INR is also the U.S. Government (USG) leader for foreign public opinion research and analysis.

Intelligence Policy and Coordination

INR coordinates between the Department of State and the IC to ensure that intelligence activities—collection and operations—support and are informed by foreign policy. Within the State Department, INR coordinates policy review of sensitive intelligence, counterintelligence, and law enforcement activities to ensure that they are consistent with foreign policy interests. INR also represents the State Department’s interests in the formulation of intelligence policy by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and by other elements of the IC.

Analytic Outreach

INR leads the IC in analytic outreach. INR’s Analytic Exchange Program provides analysts and policymakers with perspectives from hundreds of outside experts from the private sector, academia, and non-governmental organizations on the most challenging foreign policy and intelligence issues. INR also runs INRtalks: an audio-video program that directly engages these experts at the request of policymakers and analysts. INR co-chairs the National Intelligence Analysis Board’s Analytic Outreach Committee, the IC’s principal coordinating body for analytic outreach. INR co-manages the IC Associates Program with the NIC. For more information on offices within the Bureau of Intelligence and Research click here.

INL is responsible for developing and implementing bilateral and multilateral drug and crime control programs to accomplish goals and objectives in support of the Administration’s comprehensive strategy in the international arena. INL monitors the narcotics and crime control programs of different countries; plans, implements, and oversees international narcotics and crime control activities; negotiates cooperative agreements with foreign governments; and represents the United States at the United Nations, and other International Organizations on narcotics and crime matters.
  • Office of Policy, Planning, and Coordination (INL/PC): serves as the sounding board and ideas shop in the areas of both policy and management. It is also the principal go-between linking the bureau to other bureaus within the Department and to other federal agencies and departments. The office also coordinates legislative, public affairs, public diplomacy and international organization work for the bureau, and has overseen the bureau’s rapidly growing police training programs since their inception.
  • Office of the Americas Program (INL/LP): devoted to carrying out INL’s mission in the Western Hemisphere. INL/LP does this through funding and guidance to Narcotics Affairs Sections and, in some cases, individual Narcotics Affairs Officers in U.S. embassies throughout the Hemisphere.
  • Office of Iraq Programs (INL/I): develops and implements foreign assistance programs that promote stability and strengthen Iraq’s criminal justice system to the point that the people of Iraq rely on them—as opposed to militias and sectarian groups—to resolve disputes, maintain order, and seek justice. This assistance seeks to improve Iraq’s criminal justice institutions through the provision of technical expertise, training, mentoring, and infrastructure development.
  • Office of Africa and Middle East Programs (INL/AME): focused on developing, directing and overseeing critical foreign assistance programs which support comprehensive criminal justice sector capacity development in countries throughout Africa and the Middle East.
  • Office of Europe and Asia (INL/EA): responsible for broad law enforcement, rule of law and counternarcotics policies and program management in accordance with U.S. foreign policy objectives throughout Europe and all of Asia, excluding Afghanistan and Pakistan. INL/EA manages programs in 30 countries, including 15 countries in Europe, five countries in Central Asia, four countries in South Asia and six countries in East Asia and the Pacific.
  • Office of Aviation (INL/A): supports the curtailment of the supply of illegal drugs from foreign sources into the United States through aerial eradication of drug crops, interdiction of refining laboratories and trafficking activities, and other law enforcement operations as directed by the Secretary.
  • Office of Anticrime Programs (INL/C/CP): helps fight organized crime, high-level (kleptocracy) and other forms of corruption, money-laundering and terrorist financing, cyber- and intellectual property crimes, and, through efforts to strengthen border security, narcotics trafficking and other smuggling and trafficking crimes.
  • Office of Criminal Justice Assistance and Partnership (INL/CAP): provides assistance to the bureau, Department, and U.S. Government interagency and international partners to build the capacity of host-nation justice systems to prevent or eliminate transnational crime, strengthen governance and prevent conflict as part of the U.S. Government’s mission to support the development of stable democracies.

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs, domestically and through its seven missions, develops and implements U.S. policy in the United Nations, its specialized and voluntary agencies, and other international organizations. Our mission is to enhance U.S. leadership and influence throughout the multilateral system, advance U.S. interests through multilateral diplomacy, and help shape multilateral institutions into more efficient and effective instruments to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.
  • Office of Economic and Development Affairs (IO/EDA): Ensures that U.S. interests are effectively advanced in negotiations and debates on economic and development issues throughout the United Nations system. In doing so IO/EDA works closely with U.S. Missions to the UN in New York, Geneva, Rome, and Nairobi. IO/EDA core issues include those related to economic growth, sustainable development, financing for development, international development goals (such as the Millennium Development Goals and the post-2015 development agenda), food security, global health and population, the wellbeing of children, and urbanization.
  • Office of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs (IO/HRH): Advances U.S. human rights policy through the United Nations, including the Human Rights Council, UN General Assembly, UN Security Council, ECOSOC, and across its specialized agencies. IO/HRH also reflects U.S. policy and objectives in the UN’s humanitarian system, which includes the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA); it coordinates multilateral humanitarian assistance and addresses global humanitarian crises, including those caused by political conflict. Through its work with the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), IO/HRH coordinates multilateral responses to both natural and manmade disasters, as well as efforts to mitigate risks of natural disasters. IO/HRH also coordinates U.S. participation in the UN Democracy Fund, an initiative supporting civil society organizations carrying out democratization projects worldwide that the United States helped to create in 2005.
  • Office of International Conferences (IO/C): Accredits, instructs, and manages some 4,000 U.S. delegates to almost 400 multilateral conferences each year, ensuring that U.S. Government representation consists of those whose presence and participation reflect the highest possible value to U.S. foreign policy. The dedicated staff of 15 provides preparatory and on-site logistical support for nearly two dozen large conferences annually, and is committed to conscientious stewardship of the resources funded by America’s taxpayers.
  • Office of Management Policy and Resources (IO/MPR): Develops, coordinates, and implements U.S. policies within the UN system and in a broad range of non-UN organizations as they relate to financial, budgetary, administrative, and management issues. IO/MPR also promotes U.S. citizen employment in international organizations through public outreach and diplomatic engagement.
  • Office of Peace Operations, Sanctions & Counter-terrorism (IO/PSC): Leads the coordination and formulation of U.S. policy on UN peacekeeping operations, UN Security Council sanctions, and UN counter-terrorism activities. This includes active engagement on issues ranging from protecting civilians from lethal violence to counter-terrorism sanctions.
  • Office of Public Affairs, Planning, and Congressional Outreach (IO/PPC): Advances U.S. interests by communicating with global publics about U.S. priorities in international organizations, supporting outreach to Congress on U.S. multilateral activities, furthering the effectiveness of international organizations, and acting as the Bureau’s strategic planning element.
  • Office of Regional Policy and Coordination (IO/RPC): Ensures policy coherence and coordination in U.S. engagement in the multilateral system as a whole, including the UN and regional organizations; supports U.S. engagement in certain global and regional multilateral groupings (e.g. G-7); coordinates U.S. diplomacy on key Israeli-Palestinian multilateral issues; and oversees the bureau’s “Multilateral Moneyball” quantitative analysis initiative.
  • Office of Specialized and Technical Agencies (IO/STA): Handles U.S. participation in over 40 international organizations in order to enhance national security, build economic prosperity, and promote democracy. These organizations include the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Universal Postal Union) UPU, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN’s other environmental activities, and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
  • Office of United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization Affairs (IO/UNESCO): Formulates and implements U.S. policy in UNESCO to contribute to building peace, eradicating poverty, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue. The office also serves as the headquarters of the executive secretariat of the U.S. National Commission to UNESCO.
  • Office of United Nations Political Affairs (IO/UNP): Provides guidance and support to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN) in New York on political matters before the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly (UNGA), and coordinates the State Department’s participation in the annual opening of UNGA.

The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) leads the Department of State’s efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD)—whether nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological—and their delivery systems, as well as destabilizing conventional weapons, including guns, tanks and attack helicopters. It does this by:
  • Spearheading efforts to promote international consensus on WMD proliferation through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy;
  • Addressing WMD proliferation threats posed by non-state actors and terrorist groups by improving physical security, using interdiction and sanctions, and actively participating in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and other programs to counter nuclear terrorism;
  • Coordinating the implementation of key international treaties and arrangements, working to make them relevant to today’s security challenges and working closely with the UN, the G-8, NATO, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international institutions and organizations to reduce and eliminate the threat posed by WMD; and
  • Supporting efforts of foreign partners to prevent, deter and respond to the threat or use of WMD by terrorists.
ISN offices include:
  • Multilateral Nuclear and Security Affairs (ISN/MNSA): Formulates and directs U.S. policy relating to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), safeguards controls on fissile material, and other multilateral nuclear issues pertaining to Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (NWFZ) treaties, the Group of Eight (G8) nations and the European Union.
  • Nuclear Energy, Safety and Security (ISN/NESS): Develops U.S. policy related to peaceful nuclear cooperation, the future of the international nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear safety, nuclear export controls, and the physical protection of nuclear materials and facilities.
  • Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR): Engages worldwide with countries, facilities, and scientists to keep weapons of mass destruction (WMD) expertise, materials, and equipment out of the hands of proliferators and terrorists.
  • Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (ISN/NDF): Rapid-response fund to exploit nonproliferation and disarmament opportunities, circumstances, or conditions that are unanticipated or unusually difficult (e.g., missile destruction, removal of fissile material).
  • Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism (ISN/WMDT): Develops policy and plans, directs initiatives, and coordinates partner capacity-building activities to prevent, protect against, and respond to the threat or use of nuclear, radiological, chemical, or biological weapons by terrorists. Leads the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, the Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative, the Nuclear Trafficking Response Group, and the Foreign Consequence Management Program.
  • Missile, Biological and Chemical Nonproliferation (ISN/MBC): Combats the proliferation of ballistic and cruise missiles capable of delivering WMD via the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and impedes proliferation of chemical and biological weapons via the Australia Group regime. Also responsible for coordinating interdiction, sanctions and associated export controls, and direct diplomacy with missile-possessing and technology- supplying countries.
  • Conventional Arms Threat Reduction (ISN/CATR): Leads USG efforts to curb the proliferation of advanced conventional weapons (ACW) such as Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), major weapons systems (tanks, aircraft, missiles), sensors and lasers, and precision-guided munitions.
  • Export Control Cooperation (ISN/ECC): Helps other countries improve their nonproliferation export control systems, including directly via the Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance (EXBS) program and by coordinating and strengthening nonproliferation export control assistance efforts of other USG agencies and other countries.
  • Biological Policy Staff (ISN/BPS): Leads USG coordination for the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and related biological policy issues.
  • Counterproliferation Initiatives (ISN/CPI): Develops and implements counterproliferation efforts designed to interdict or deny shipments of WMD and their means of delivery, to shut down illicit procurement and financial networks, and to promote compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions. Leads Department efforts related to the Proliferation Security Initiative and promoting observance of UN Security Council Resolution 1540.
  • Regional Affairs (ISN/RA): Leads the bureau’s work on diplomatic responses to nuclear threats posed by Iran, North Korea, and Syria. Develops and supports strategic dialogues with India, Pakistan, and China. Pursues regional nonproliferation strategies in key areas such as the Middle East and East Asia (including via the ASEAN Regional Forum).
  • Strategic Communications and Outreach (ISN/SCO): Supports the bureau’s interaction with Congress, the media, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and coordinates public diplomacy and outreach efforts in support of nonproliferation.

The Bureau of Legislative Affairs (H) coordinates legislative activity for the Department of State and advises the Secretary and their team on legislative strategy. The H staff advises individual bureaus on their legislative and outreach strategies and coordinates those efforts with the Secretary’s priorities. H facilitates effective communication between the diplomatic professionals of the State Department and Members of Congress and their staffs. H manages Department testimony before House and Senate hearings, organizes Member and staff briefings, and facilitates Congressional travel abroad for Members and staff. The bureau reviews proposed legislation and coordinates the Department’s positions on legislation affecting the conduct of U.S. foreign policy, seeks passage of relevant foreign policy legislation and appropriations, and obtains advice and consent to treaties as well as Senate confirmation of the President’s Ambassadorial and Department of State nominees.

The Office of Management Strategy and Solutions (M/SS) is a strategic arm of the Under Secretary for Management led by an Assistant Secretary-equivalent Director. M/SS catalyzes strategic insights and solutions to help improve the management platform and advance foreign policy goals. As the Department’s internal management consultant, we aim to be the Trusted Partner for Smart Management.

We are comprised of three directorates: Policy and Global Presence, the Center for Analytics, and Consulting and Advanced Projects.

For details about each directorate, please visit our site.

The NEA manages U.S. foreign policy toward countries in the Middle East and North Africa; and directs, coordinates, and supervises diplomatic activities within those countries, including consular and administrative management issues. NEA covers the countries and geographic entities of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Regional policy issues handled by NEA include Iraq, the Middle East peace process, and political and economic reform in the Near East region.
  • Office of Arabian Peninsula Affairs (NEA/ARP): responsible for shaping, coordinating and implementing foreign policy in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
  • Office of Egypt and Levant Affairs (NEA/ELA): responsible for the management of U.S. relations for Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
  • Office of Maghreb Affairs (NEA/MAG): responsible for the policy between the United States and Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.
  • Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs (NEA/IPA): responsible for diplomatic issues associated with the Israel and Palestinian conflict.
  • Office of Iraqi Affairs (NEA/I): responsible for the offices of Economic and Assistance Affairs; Political Affairs; Political-Military Affairs; Provincial Reconstruction Transition and Stabilization Affairs; and the Iraq Policy and Operations Group.
  • Office of Iranian Affairs (NEA/IR): develops, coordinates, recommends, and executes U.S. policy on Iran.
  • Office of Regional Affairs (NEA/RA): responsible for issues affecting the region as a whole or cutting across the lines of responsibility of the various office directors, and provides specialized functional support to other elements of the bureau in the following fields: regional political and economic issues, political-military affairs, multilateral organizations, labor and social affairs, foreign assistance and budget planning, commercial coordination, science, educational and cultural affairs, research, legislative matters, counternarcotics, environment, refugees, counterterrorism and human rights.
  • Office of Press and Public Diplomacy (NEA/PPD): responsible for the coordination of public diplomacy activities in the NEA region.
  • Office of Middle East Partnership Initiative (NEA/PI): responsible for programming in support of reform throughout the region, with special emphasis on empowering women and youth, education, strengthening economies, and broadening political participation. They provide assistance to reformers to create foundations for sustainable economic and human growth.

OES leads the Department of State’s foreign policy development in the areas of environment and sustainable development; conservation and sustainable management of natural resources; global climate change (in concert with the Special Envoy for Climate Change); oceans and fisheries affairs; marine conservation; international science and technology cooperation programs; bioterrorism and biodefense; infectious diseases and global health; science and technology; and public outreach on environmental diplomacy. OES advises the Department on functional and technical considerations relating to the development and implementation of policies and programs that fall within the bureau’s responsibilities. OES also represents the Department in international negotiations and interagency policy working groups and committees. OES provides foreign policy guidance and coordination to international organizations that share bureau equities, and sees that such activities are designed and implemented in a manner that advances U.S. interests.
  • Office of Policy and Public Outreach (OES/PPO): fosters the integration of environment, science, technology, health, and oceans and polar issues into U.S. foreign policy and facilitates policy formulation across OES and with the Department.
  • Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs (OES/O/OPA): develops international oceans policy by coordinating interagency action and conducting bilateral and multilateral negotiations involving the Law of the Sea Convention, freedom of navigation and overflight, protection of the marine environment, and extended continental shelf and maritime claims and boundaries.
  • Office of Marine Conservation (OES/O/OMC): develops and coordinates U.S. policy for the international conservation and management of living marine resources, including shared fish stocks, marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles and sharks, among others.
  • Office of Ecology and Conservation (OES/E/ENC): works to conserve and sustainably manage the world’s ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, drylands and coral reefs. ENC helps address international threats to biodiversity and ecosystems, such as land degradation, invasive species and illegal trade, as well as issues associated with the safe handling of living modified organisms and access to genetic resources.
  • Office of Conservation and Water (OES/E/ECW): Nature provides the resources on which humans depend for our survival and economic growth. OES/ECW coordinates the development of U.S. foreign policy approaches to conserving and sustainably managing the world's ecologically and economically important ecosystems, including, forests, wetlands, drylands and coral reefs, the species that depend on them, and the world’s water resources.
  • Office of Global Change (OES/E/EGC): Implements and manages U.S. international policy on climate change, and represents the United States in negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and in many other international fora focused on climate change, including the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization.
  • Office of Environmental Policy (OES/E/ENV): develops and coordinates U.S. international policy on environmental issues in the areas of air pollution; toxic chemicals and pesticides; mercury; and hazardous wastes and other pollutants. ENV advances sustainable development goals internationally through multilateral organizations within the UN system and elsewhere.
  • Office of International Health and Biodefense (OES/S/IHB): furthers U.S. foreign policy goals through global health diplomacy. This includes work on the President’s Global Health Initiative, disease control, pandemic preparedness, and other emerging health issues. IHB brings together international stakeholders to promote strategies and policies which strengthen global health, enhance bio-security, and respond to global health crises.
  • Office of Space and Advanced Technology (OES/S/SAT): develops and implements policy and activities related to bilateral and multilateral international space and science and technology programs and issues, as well as megascience and nanotechnology cooperation.
  • Office of Science and Technology Cooperation (OES/S/STC): facilitates bilateral and multi-stakeholder science engagement to advance American national security, economic, and foreign policy interests. The office manages and oversees more than 55 bilateral science and technology agreements and 2,000 sub-agreements currently in force, which collectively lay the ground rules for science engagement, including the protection of intellectual property. Through the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative, the office helps direct the technical expertise of young scientists and engineers toward peaceful, commercial applications and opens U.S. market opportunities. The office also deploys pre-eminent U.S. scientists as “science ambassadors” to help support broader foreign policy objectives. These American scientists leverage their expertise, knowledge, and professional networks to increase the reach and influence of the United States.

The Diplomatic Security (DS), Training Directorate (T), Office of Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) is the premier provider of counterterrorism training and capacity building for the U.S. Department of State (DOS). ATA is a successful partnership between the DOS Bureau of Counterterrorism, which provides policy guidance, and DS, which manages the operational implementation of the program. ATA serves as the primary provider of U.S. government antiterrorism training to foreign law enforcement agencies of Partner Nations. ATA provides a range of topics from tactical, bomb detection and neutralization, crime scene investigation, airport, harbor, and building security, to protection of national leadership. Training plans are formed that are unique to each Partner Nation and may include modern and effective training, technical assistance, equipment grants, but always with an emphasis on human rights and community engagement.

The Training Curriculum Division within DS/T/ATA is seeking unpaid interns to assist the Instructional Systems Designers in designing, developing, and consulting on lesson plans, materials, instructional media, course requirements, and qualitative analysis. All this will be done utilizing the ADDIE model, adult education industry standards, and Standard Operating Procedures.

The Office of Civil Rights (S/OCR) exists to propagate fairness, equity and inclusion at the Department of State. S/OCR has four main components: the Legal Team, the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Intake and Resolution Team, Alternative Dispute Resolution Team, and the Diversity Management and Outreach Team. These teams manage the Department’s EEO Process, run the Department’s Anti-Harassment Program, oversee the Department’s diversity and inclusion efforts, and provide real-time management advice to senior-level officials worldwide.

The Office of eDiplomacy (EDIP) seeks to promote the creative and innovative use of 21st-century web 2.0 tools to advance U.S. diplomacy. The office imagines, creates, advocates for, and educates on platforms for working collaboratively and sharing knowledge across all of State’s diverse communities. The Office of eDiplomacy uses innovative new media tools to provide creative, lightweight, and user-friendly solutions that are easily adaptable to region-specific needs and job functions. It oversees creative outreach-oriented programs such as the Virtual Student Foreign Service, the networking site for Foreign Service professionals, Corridor, and the Department’s Innovation Fund for promoting creative, high-impact use of existing technology.

The Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance (DFA) is charged with directing the transformation of the U.S. Government approach to foreign assistance. The office strengthens the Secretary’s ability to oversee and coordinate all U.S. foreign assistance. The office provides leadership, coordination and strategic direction within the U.S. Government and with external stakeholders to enhance foreign assistance effectiveness and integrates foreign assistance planning and resource management across State and USAID. They develop and defend foreign assistance budget requests and allocate State and USAID foreign assistance funding to meet urgent needs and new opportunities and to ensure long-term sustainable investments. Finally, they promote good stewardship of foreign assistance funds by strengthening oversight, accountability and transparency.

Mandated by Congress, the Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) has the responsibility to protect the interests of the United States and its citizens from foreign diplomats’ abuses of privileges and immunities; to improve the treatment of U.S. personnel assigned abroad by imposing reciprocal treatment on foreign diplomats assigned to the United States; and to provide service to the foreign diplomatic and consular community in matters relating to motor vehicles, tax, customs, property, and travel. OFM also provides the legal foundation to facilitate secure and efficient operations of U.S. missions abroad, and of foreign missions and international organizations within the United States. There are several divisions that provide administrative, financial, procurement, and management analysis activities, as well as information systems technologies within OFM. OFM Regional Offices are located in Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, and Houston.

Office of International Religious Freedom (J/IRF): promotes universal respect for freedom of religion or belief for all as a core objective of U.S. foreign policy. This office supports the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom and is the principal advisor to the President and the Secretary of State on international religious freedom policy. IRF monitors religiously motivated abuses, harassment, and discrimination worldwide, and recommends, develops, and implements policies and programs to address these concerns. The Office also publishes the annual International Religious Freedom Report, a critical tool for advancing human rights, democracy, and national security, providing a comprehensive review of religious freedom conditions in nearly 200 countries and territories.

The Office of Medical Services’ mission is to safeguard and promote the health and well-being of America’s diplomatic community. This is accomplished via a central staff in Washington, D.C., and a cadre of doctors, physician assistants, nurses, and technicians assigned to select missions abroad.

The Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) provides the Secretary of State with objective economic analysis and advice on the development and implementation of a wide range of strategic international economic policy issues. OCE was created under the Quadrennial Development and Diplomacy Review (QDDR) to advance economic statecraft as a foreign policy priority. OCE’s advice and analysis include engagement both on current, hot-button, priority issues where economics and foreign policy intersect, as well as deeper dives into longer-term, thematic global trends with economic underpinnings. OCE is designed to serve as an analytical resource for the whole Department, and to our embassies and consulates overseas. In addition, OCE promotes economic capacity building and works to amplify our economic and commercial outreach. The Chief Economist’s rank is equivalent to that of an Assistant Secretary.

OIG inspects each of the approximately 260 embassies, diplomatic posts, and international broadcasting installations throughout the world, to determine whether policy goals are being achieved and whether the interests of the United States are being represented and advanced effectively. Additionally, OIG performs specialized security inspections and audits in support of the Department’s mission to provide effective protection to our personnel, facilities, and sensitive intelligence information. OIG also audits Department and BBG operations and activities to ensure that they are as effective, efficient, and economical as possible. Finally, OIG investigates instances of fraud, waste, and mismanagement that may constitute either criminal wrongdoing or violation of Department and BBG regulations.

The Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary has been strengthening the S&T literacy and capacity of the Department as a whole—both by increasing the number of scientists in the Department and by increasing training and exposure of diplomatic and civil service personnel to S&T issues. They build partnerships with the outside S&T community—academia, technical agencies, associations, industry—particularly in the U.S., but also abroad. They provide advice to the Secretary and other senior Department officials, and catalyze initiatives for greater State leadership in international S&T cooperation and related policy developments for new and emerging S&T issues. For more information, see the STAS website: www.state.gov/e/stas/.

The Office of the Secretary is made up of several other offices that provide support and assistance for the Secretary of State and the missions of the Department as a whole.
  • Office of the Chief of Protocol (S/CPR): The Office of the Chief of Protocol for the Office of the Secretary provides the President and the Secretary of State with advice on fulfilling the government’s obligations relating to national and international protocol. They are responsible for planning, arranging, and executing programs for visiting chiefs-of-state and heads of government, foreign ministers, and other high-level officials. They coordinate with the White House on the presentation of credentials of foreign ambassadors to the President and accredit foreign ambassadors and other diplomatic and consular officers. The office plans and executes arrangements for official functions hosted by the Secretary of State.
  • Office of the Executive Secretariat (S/ES): The Executive Secretariat (S/ES) is the Secretary’s coordination and communications mechanism, and the channel for authoritative communication between the Department and the interagency foreign affairs community.
  • Office of the Executive Secretariat, Operations Center (S/ES-O): The Operations Center is the 24-hour nerve center and communications hub of the State Department, operating continuously since its founding on April 30, 1961. “Ops,” as it is commonly known, consists of two offices: the Watch and Crisis Management Support (CMS). While the Watch responds to breaking news, CMS handles longer-term planning for and supports the response to possible crises around the world. CMS specializes in monitoring crises worldwide, promoting contingency planning and emergency preparedness, and supporting interagency evacuation planning and implementation. Intern duties include monitoring regional developments, assisting task forces, and handling special projects. Graduate-level students are encouraged to apply.
  • Foreign Service Grievance Board (S/FSGB): Congress established the Foreign Service Grievance Board as an independent adjudicatory body to ensure procedural protections for Foreign Service employees of the six Foreign Affairs agencies. The board must resolve the tensions that sometimes develop between the need to protect employee rights and the desire to enhance Foreign Service efficiency. The major function of the board is to provide a forum for the fair review and adjudication of grievance appeals. The board’s jurisdiction extends to any grievance, as defined in Section 1101 of the Foreign Service Act, and to any separation for cause proceeding initiated pursuant to Section 610(a) (2). The jurisdiction of the Foreign Service Grievance Board is limited to current and former members of the Foreign Service who are U.S. citizens. The board also has jurisdiction over labor management implementation disputes and certain retirement annuity pension claims. Its decisions generally are binding on the grievant and the agency alike, subject only to judicial review.
  • Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator (S/GAC): The Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator oversees and directs all resources and international activities of the U.S. Government to combat the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, including U.S. contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Additional information about the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator may be found at www.state.gov/s/gac.
  • Office of Global Health Diplomacy (S/GHD): The Office of Global Health Diplomacy guides diplomatic efforts to advance the United States' global health mission to improve and save lives and foster health system sustainability. S/GHD focuses on providing diplomatic support for the Administration’s global health priorities of Creating an AIDS-Free Generation and Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths.
  • Office for the Representative of Global Partnership Initiatives (S/GPI): The Office of S/GPI is responsible for bringing together people across regions to work on issues of common interest. They also launch new projects, searching for solutions while also providing training and technical assistance for future projects. The office works closely with its partners to plan and implement projects—avoiding duplication, learning from each other, and maximizing our impact by looking for best practices.
  • Office of Haiti Special Coordinator (S/HSC): The Office of S/HSC oversees U.S. Government engagement with Haiti, including diplomatic relations and the implementation of a reconstruction strategy in partnership with the Government of Haiti and other donors. The office’s objective is to integrate U.S. policies with programmatic capabilities and resources across U.S. Government agencies to ensure effective and accountable assistance to Haiti’s recovery. In that capacity, S/HSC oversees all Haiti-related issues within the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and coordinates all interagency engagement on Haiti. The office also serves as an important backstop in supporting Embassy Port-Au-Prince’s multifaceted efforts on the ground.
  • Office of the Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs (S/SGRIA): The Office of the Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs works to foster a relationship between U.S. state and local elected leaders and their sub-national counterparts abroad. S/SGRIA promotes local capacity-building investment programs to enhance the country-led processes in line with the Department of State’s priorities and amplifies targeted capacity building programs utilizing the technical expertise of our state and local officials in the United States.
  • Office for Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI): The Office for Global Women’s Issues coordinates foreign policy issues and activities relating to the political, economic and social advancement of women around the world. It mobilizes concrete support for women’s rights and political and economic empowerment through initiatives and programs designed to increase women’s and girls’ access to education and health care, to combat violence against women and girls in all its forms, and to ensure that women’s rights are fully integrated with human rights in the development of U.S. foreign policy.
  • Office of Civil Rights (S/OCR): The Office of Civil Rights manages all Department of State programs and activities which promote equal employment opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action for employees and applicants for employment. This includes directing a complaints processing program which addresses complaints of discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, disabling condition, or prior statutory, constitutionally protected activity. The office also advises the Secretary of State and senior Departmental managers on affirmative action and diversity issues and develops and implements policies and procedures to eliminate barriers to equal employment opportunity. Finally, S/OCR is responsible for conducting briefings and training sessions on EEO, diversity management, and diversity for departmental components worldwide.
  • Office of the Secretary, Policy Planning Staff (S/P): The Policy Planning Staff (S/P) serves as a source of independent policy analysis and advice for the Secretary of State. S/P’s mission is to take a longer-term, strategic view of global trends and frame recommendations for the Secretary of State to advance U.S. interests and American values. Some of the main tasks of this office include undertaking broad analytical studies of regional and functional issues. This office also takes the lead on certain issues as tasked by the Secretary of State and engages functional and regional bureaus within the Department and relevant government agencies to ensure coordination and integration of policy with longer-term objectives. They hold policy planning talks with major allies and act as liaison to the non-governmental, think-tank and academic communities. The policies of the Department of State are articulated through members of staff from this office.

The Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator oversees and directs all resources and international activities of the U.S. Government to combat the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, including U.S. contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Additional information about the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator may be found at www.state.gov/s/gac.

The Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment oversees the Department’s efforts to design and implement policies and better promote U.S. interests around the world in the interconnected areas of economic growth, global energy security, and environmental policy. The Office of the Under Secretary supervises the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB), the Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR), the Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary (STAS), and the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE).

The Under Secretary for Political Affairs is the Department’s third-ranking official. The incumbent serves as the day-to-day manager of overall regional and bilateral policy issues, and oversees the bureaus of Africa (AF), East Asia and the Pacific (EAP), Europe and Eurasia (EUR), the Near East (NEA), South and Central Asia (SCA), the Western Hemisphere (WHA), and International Organizations (IO).

OBO assists the Secretary of State and the Under Secretary for Management with formulating policy on the Department of State’s worldwide buildings program abroad for the Department of State and the U.S. Government community. Through its extensive program of new construction, facility rehabilitation, and operations programs, OBO provides safe, secure, and functional living and working space for the thousands of men and women who represent the United States and perform the important work of diplomacy. Since 2001, OBO has constructed over 56 new facilities and has moved more than 17,000 personnel into safer structures, and many more new facilities are either in the design or construction phase.

The Policy Planning Staff (S/P) serves as a source of independent policy analysis and advice for the Secretary of State. S/P’s mission is to take a longer-term, strategic view of global trends and frame recommendations for the Secretary of State to advance U.S. interests and American values. Some of the main tasks of this office include undertaking broad analytical studies of regional and functional issues. This office also takes the lead on certain issues as tasked by the Secretary of State and engages functional and regional bureaus within the Department and relevant government agencies to ensure coordination and integration of policy with longer-term objectives. They hold policy planning talks with major allies and act as liaison to the non-governmental, think-tank and academic communities. The policies of the Department of State are articulated through members of staff from this office.

The Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (R/PPR) provides long-term strategic planning and performance measurement capability for public diplomacy and public affairs programs. It also enables the Under Secretary to better advise on the allocation of public diplomacy and public affairs resources, to focus those resources on the most urgent national security objectives, and provide realistic measurement of public diplomacy’s and public affairs’ effectiveness.

The Bureau of the Political-Military Affairs (PM) builds enduring security partnerships to advance U.S. national security objectives. The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs is the Department of State's principal link to the Department of Defense. The PM Bureau provides policy direction in the areas of international security, security assistance, military operations, defense strategy and plans, and defense trade.
  • Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC): Ensuring commercial exports of defense articles and defense services advance U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives. The Department of State is responsible for the export and temporary import of defense articles and services governed by 22 U.SC. 2778 of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and Executive Order 13637. The International Traffic in Arms Regulations ("ITAR," 22 CFR 120-130) implements the AECA. The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the U.S. Department of State implements the ITAR including the United States Munitions List (USML).
  • Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (PM/CPA): The Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (CPA) is responsible for facilitating effective communication and interaction between the Assistant Secretary and the staff of the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and the Congress, foreign and domestic media, and the general public. CPA is responsible for managing the PM Bureau’s congressional affairs, public affairs, and public diplomacy functions.
  • Office of State-Defense Integration (PM/SDI): The Office of State-Defense Integration (PM/SDI) promotes and facilitates closer synchronization and coordination between the Department of State (DOS) and Department of Defense (DoD) by managing several high-profile political-military programs and functions. These include the Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD) and Military Advisor (MILAD) programs; DoD visits to the Department (military education, pre-deployment briefings, and senior leader engagements); DoD requests for DOS participation in military exercises; DOS approvals of Foreign Government Employment (FGE) requests from retired military personnel; and PM University training courses for DOS personnel. These programs and functions build partnerships and foreign policy expertise in matters pivotal to both DOS and DoD. The end result is that both agencies more efficiently and effectively advance U.S. national security interests, prepare for and respond to emerging threats, and ensure the strategic alignment of our U.S. military and diplomatic efforts.
  • Office of Global Programs and Initiatives (PM/GPI): The Office of Global Programs and Initiatives (PM/GPI) integrates strategic approaches with programmatic support to promote international cooperation on a broad range of global security issues. PM/GPI is comprised of three divisions: Peace Operations Capacity Building, Security Forces Capacity Building, and Aviation and Operations – and a team that is implementing the Strategic Impact Assessment Framework.
  • Office of Security Assistance (PM/SA): The Office of Security Assistance (SA) has three core functions: (1) managing State Department Title 22 military grant assistance – to include directing over $6 billion annually in U.S. military grant assistance to allies and friends through policy development, budget formulation, and program oversight; (2) managing concurrence/coordination on various Department of Defense (DoD) Title 10 authorities, including joint planning and development of section 333; and (3) participating in, and coordinating State Department input into, DoD planning efforts.
  • Office of Security Negotiations and Agreements (PM/SNA): The mission of Security Negotiations and Agreements (PM/SNA) is to strengthen the nation’s security partnerships throughout the world by coordinating, negotiating and concluding international agreements to meet U.S. security requirements.
  • Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers (PM/RSAT): The Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers (RSAT) advances U.S. foreign policy and national security interests through its management of bilateral/ multi-lateral political-military and regional security relations and the sale/transfer of U.S.-origin defense articles and services to foreign governments.
  • Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA): The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA) works to deliver programs and services aimed at reducing the harmful effects of at-risk, illicitly proliferated, and indiscriminately used conventional weapons of war.

PRM develops and implements U.S. policies on international population, refugee and migration matters. The office advances U.S. humanitarian principles by providing assistance to victims of persecution and civil strife. PRM also administers the U.S. refugee admissions program that processes and resettles refugees in the United States.
  • Office of the Comptroller (PRM/C): responsible for the overall financial management worldwide of the bureau’s program appropriations for migration, refugee assistance, protection and admissions activities, including contributions and other funding arrangements with United Nations and other international organizations and in the preparation and execution of grants and cooperative agreements with U.S. and foreign nonprofit voluntary agencies and on behalf of other federal agencies.
  • Office of Policy and Resource Planning (PRM/PRP): develops and ensures consistent implementation of policy on international refugee, migration, and other humanitarian issues, including coordination with other U.S. Government agencies.
  • Office of Multilateral Coordination and External Relations (PRM/MCE): plans, formulates, and directs the implementation of U.S. policy positions and strategies that address the full range of refugee, migration and other humanitarian issues in the UN system and in other multilateral organizations including the UNHCR, International Committee for the Red Cross, and International Organization for Migration. The office develops and implements bureau initiatives on strategic global priority issues including refugee women, refugee children, gender-based violence and broader protection issues as they relate to the multilateral system.
  • Office of Refugee Admissions (PRM/A): formulates refugee admissions policy and programs for the U.S. Government, manages the U.S. refugee admissions program, including processing abroad and domestic initial reception and placement, and establishes program policies and priorities and recommends annual regional ceilings for authorization by the President in consultation with the Congress.
  • Office of Population and International Migration (PRM/PIM): directs State’s international population and migration policy formulation and implementation in order to further the Department’s goal of promoting healthy and educated populations and supporting orderly and humane migration. They represent the United States on the governing bodies of relevant international and multilateral organizations such as the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Commission on Population and Development (UNCPD).
  • Offices of Refugee Assistance: The Offices of Refugee Assistance are broken up based on respective geographical areas.
    • Office of Assistance for Africa (PRM/AFR): is responsible for all countries located on the continent of Africa.
    • Office of Assistance for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas (PRM/ECA): is responsible for the countries located in Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas.
    • Office of Assistance for Asia and Near East (PRM/ANE): is responsible for the countries in Asia and the Pacific as well as the Near East (to include the Middle East); it also coordinates U.S. policy and program issues related to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The Bureau of Public Affairs’ mission is to help make foreign policy less foreign to people around the globe by reaching out to the media and the public. The bureau also provides guidance and direction to the Department on the communication of foreign policy. The following offices work within the bureau to accomplish these goals in many different ways:
  • Office of Strategic Communications (PA/OSC): Advances U.S. foreign policy priorities by leading communications campaigns on cross-cutting issues that require a sustained and coordinated use of PA bureau resources.
  • Press Office (PA/PRESS): Prepares the Department Spokesperson for the daily briefing; facilitates media coverage of the Secretary of State’s public events; issues statements, media notes, and fact sheets to articulate a hot topic or policy position; and facilitates special media briefings for specific issues or events.
  • Office of Public Engagement (PA/OPE): Schedules briefings and conferences in the Department and arranges town meetings and speakers to visit communities to discuss U.S. foreign policy and why it is important to all Americans; reaches out to schools and non-governmental organizations; and answers questions from the public about current foreign policy issues by phone, e-mail and letter.
  • International Media Engagement (PA/IME): Creates and implements strategies to garner positive and persuasive coverage and commentary of U.S. foreign policy priorities by deploying U.S. spokespersons on foreign media, including via a network of six media hubs.
  • Office of Website Management (PA/WM): Designs, develops, prepares, and maintains information content for the State Department's main website. The Office focuses on managing and providing technical and development support for www.state.gov and several related public-facing websites such as diplomacy.state.gov, pepfar.gov, and others.
  • Foreign Press Center (PA/FPC): Helps foreign media to cover the United States; generates programs for foreign journalists and broadcasters to deepen their understanding and the accuracy of their reporting on American society and U.S. foreign policy.
  • Office of Video Services (PA/OVS): Works to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities by providing live video coverage of the activities and policy messages of the Secretary of State, Department spokespersons, and other senior Department and U.S. government principals.
  • Rapid Response Unit (PA/RRU): Monitors global news stories around-the-clock; analyzes important media trends and puts together effective messages; and distributes a daily alert to Cabinet secretaries and key policymakers in Washington, D.C. and overseas.
  • Office of the Historian (PA/HO): Prepares the official documentary record of U.S. foreign policy, The Foreign Relations of the United States; compiles historical studies on U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy; and responds to public inquiries on foreign policy and diplomatic history.
  • United States Diplomacy Center (PA/USDC): Develops the exhibitions, collections, and educational public programs for the Department of State’s museum and visitors center. USDC is dedicated to exploring and engaging the public in the history, practice, and challenges of diplomacy and the work of the Department of State. Programs and exhibits explain the work of U.S diplomats, where they work and why. Interns can work on a variety of projects such as planning and implementing education programs and events, and completing museum collections projects which include artifact cataloging, photography, preservation, inventory, and exhibition planning. Interns also perform research and writing which cover topics and people in diplomatic history, as well as research related to specific artifacts or donors to the collection.
  • Office of Digital Engagement (PA/ODE): Communicates U.S. foreign policy through direct engagement with audiences on digital platforms. The content the office produces serves as the official online voice of the U.S. Department of State and the Secretary.

The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs conducts U.S. foreign relations with countries in the region of South and Central Asia. This bureau directs, coordinates and supervises diplomatic activities within this region, including consular and administrative management issues.
  • SCA Front Office (SCA/FO): directs, coordinates, and supervises diplomatic activities within the South and Central Asian countries, including consular and administrative management issues.
  • Office of Central Asia (SCA/CEN): informs policy and coordinates with U.S. Missions in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
  • Office of INSB (SCA/INSB): informs policy and coordinates with U.S. Missions in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Maldives.
  • Afghanistan Desk (SCA/A): is responsible for U.S. policy toward Afghanistan, and liaises with the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan.
  • India Desk (SCA/I): is responsible for U.S. policy toward India, and liaises with the U.S. Embassy in India.
  • Pakistan Desk (SCA/P): is responsible for U.S. policy toward Pakistan, and liaises with the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan.
  • Office of Press and Public Diplomacy (SCA/PPD): integrates public diplomacy planning, programming, and evaluation into the overall work of the SCA Bureau.
  • Office of Regional Affairs (SCA/RA): provides the Bureau of South and Central Asia with expertise on and coordination of a broad spectrum of functional, global, and trans-border issues pertaining to the South and Central Asian region.

The United States Mission to the Organization of American States was formally established in 1948, and is the only embassy located within the Department of State in Washington, D.C. The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world’s oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States held in Washington, D.C. in October 1889. It is the premier multilateral forum for dealing with political issues in the Western Hemisphere. The main goals of the Mission are to strengthen peace and security, promote the effective exercise of representative democracy, ensure the peaceful settlement of disputes among members, and provide for common action in the event of aggression. They also seek solutions to political, juridical, and economic problems that may arise by promoting cooperative action, and economic, social, educational, scientific and cultural development.

Coordinates overall U.S. public diplomacy in support of U.S. strategic interests and foreign policy objectives, using the tactics of engagement, exchanges, education and empowerment. Oversees the Bureau of Public Affairs (PA), the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), and the Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP). Serves as the Secretary’s representative on the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which ensures and safeguards the integrity, quality and effectiveness of U.S. Government international broadcasting. Manages U.S. participation at overseas Expos (also known as World’s Fairs) and leads international campaigns for U.S. cities competing to host Expos. The Expo Unit is currently managing the public-private partnership to execute the U.S. pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The Office of the Under Secretary for Management oversees the activities of 10 bureaus and offices that are responsible for management improvement initiatives; security; the Department’s information technology infrastructure; support services for domestic and overseas operations; consular affairs; and personnel matters, including recruitment, career development, training, medical services, and retirement programs. Bureaus reporting to M include: Administration (A); Consular Affairs (CA); Diplomatic Security (DS); the Foreign Service Institute (FSI); Human Resources (HR); Information Resources Management (IRM); and Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO).

The United States Mission to the United Nations was established in 1947 by the United Nations Participation Act to assist the President and the Department of State in conducting U.S. policy at the United Nations. The Mission carries out our nation’s participation in the world governing body and recommends what course of action the United States should pursue in the world organization.

USUN/NY Executive office

Interns for the Executive Office of Ambassador Power assist daily operations through a variety of operational and policy-related tasks. Interns gain exposure to ambassadorial-level meetings, note-taking, and correspondence, while also supporting policy advisors through research and the operations team with phone support, document dissemination, and additional administrative tasks. Strong analytical, research, and organizations skills required. Solid work ethic and positive attitude are a must.

USUN/NY Protocol Office

The Protocol intern will work side by side with members of the Protocol department to plan, manage and execute all details for official representational functions for the Permanent Representative and USUN Ambassadors. These events will take place at the Ambassador’s official residence at the Waldorf Astoria Towers, the US Mission building, the UN and other venues in NYC. These functions include breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, receptions and meetings. The intern will assist with events as assigned including the invitation process – create, proof, fax, track responses, etc. She/he will assist with updating contact information as required. The Protocol intern will also assist with managing waiters as needed, coffee service for Ambassadors as needed, faxing, e-mailing, calling and assisting with events before and after hours.

USUN/NY Management Office

The Management Section of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations is a team of approximately 25 people that support the employees and operations of the Mission. We have specialists working in the areas of a) information technology, b) human resources, c) budget, d) logistics and e) research and records management. For example, we assist Foreign Service Officers when they arrive for their New York assignments to find housing, we do all the contracting and procurement for the Mission, we administer the IT infrastructure including BlackBerrys, desk tops and secure communications, we arrange for the credentials for Mission employees to have access to the United Nations and we advertise for and hire new employees. The ideal candidate would have good computer skills and also have an interest in the field of management. Good communications and interpersonal skills will help too.

USUN/NY Budget Office

The Budget and Finance Office (B&F) reviews and approves all travel authorizations and travel vouchers. Purchase orders submitted by the General Services Office (GSO) are recorded in B&F’s accounting system, the Global Financial Management System (GFMS). B&F also transmits claims for commercial payments and employee reimbursements to the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services (CGFS). While payments for these types of claims are made through electronic funds transfer, representational claims for entertainment are paid out of the K-Fund via a paper check.

USUN/NY Research Unit

The Research Unit plays two vital roles within the Mission: 1) responding to research requests and 2) managing and maintaining the Mission’s records. Fulfilling both roles entails covering the full spectrum of U.S.-UN relations. Interns assigned to the Unit are immersed in a broad variety of issues dealt with by the UN and will acquire in-depth knowledge and a deeper understanding of the complex questions handled by the State Department. Interns are uniquely placed to work on a wide range of topics and may work on various in-depth research or records management projects that can be tailored to their course of study or professional interests. During the internship, interns have access to an array of information resources, including the Mission archives, numerous specialized databases and the UN Library. They also have the opportunity to attend an extensive range of UN meetings as well as training courses on specialized information resources. By the end of their internship, they will come away with a deeper understanding of how the UN works and how the U.S. Mission maintains its institutional memory for the U.S., in addition to having knowledge of authoritative research tools, resources and techniques that are essential to the execution of U.S. foreign policy. Students of history, regional studies, information science, knowledge management and international relations would be well suited to the Research Unit environment.

UNGA

The United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN) New York is seeking a highly motivated and engaging intern to provide support to the Mission’s dedicated UN General Assembly (UNGA) team. This unique position provides an opportunity to work with a senior policy team of Ambassadors and advisors on a wide range of UN issues before the 71st General Assembly. The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN. All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation. Each year in September the full UN membership meets in the General Assembly Hall in New York for the annual General Assembly session, and General Debate, which many heads of state attend and address. Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new members and budgetary matters, are made.

USUN/NY ECOSOC Office

The Economic and Social Affairs (ECOSOC) Section is responsible for advising and supporting the Permanent Representative and the U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council on all economic, social and environmental policy, humanitarian assistance, global public health, and human rights matters at the United Nations. Organized by thematic/functional area, the ECOSOC Section advances U.S. foreign policy priorities in the 54-member UN Economic and Social Council, as well as the UN General Assembly Second Committee (which covers macroeconomic, environment, and development issues) and Third Committee (which addresses social, cultural, and humanitarian issues and human rights). The Section coordinates the Mission’s efforts related to the election of the United States to UN bodies and commissions, the election of U.S. expert candidates to serve on UN committees and working groups, and preventing human rights abusers from gaining UN leadership positions. The Section manages U.S. participation in General Assembly high-level thematic debates, meetings and UN conferences, which often require the Section’s Advisors to engage in several weeks or even many months of intergovernmental negotiations to produce a consensus-agreed “outcome document.” Advisors in the section manage our relations with all of the New York-headquartered UN Funds and Programs for development, and coordinate U.S. representation on the Executive Boards of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Development Program (UNDP), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women and UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The Section shares responsibility with the Political Section to advance U.S. interests in the UN Peacebuilding Commission. Two humanitarian advisors in the section work closely with the UN Office of the Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), UN funds and programs, other UN entities, NGOs, and the Political Section as appropriate, on emergency responses to natural and man-made (conflict-related) disasters. Some of the wide-ranging economic and social development issues under the section's purview include poverty eradication, democratic governance, human rights, public health, climate change, trade, finance and debt, migration and refugees, population, treatment of indigenous people, rights of persons with disabilities and the advancement of the status of women. The Section also advances U.S. interests aimed at promoting children’s health and safety, fighting international crime and narcotics, and promoting internet freedom.

USUN/NY PRESS Office

USUN/Press and Public Diplomacy Office (USUN/PRESS): informs and influences key audiences through outreach to U.S. and international press, interaction on web and social media platforms, and engagement with foreign diplomats, non-governmental organization stakeholders, and youth.

USUN/NY Host Country Office

The United States Mission's Office of Host Country Affairs assures that the obligations of the United States to the United Nations organization and to the UN community in New York are upheld. The Office also serves a variety of important liaison functions between the world's largest and most prestigious diplomatic community on the one hand, and federal and local government agencies, businesses, and private citizens on the other. The Department of State has delegated to the United States Mission the responsibility of managing our country’s relationship with the UN community, including the other 192 permanent missions to the United Nations, as well as the UN observer missions located in New York City. Some of the Office's most important services to the United Nations community include:
  • Facilitating and evaluating registration and accreditation.
  • Acting as a law enforcement liaison to ensure safety, security, cooperation and respect.
  • Providing visa services for registered members of the official United Nations community in New York with a valid visa status.
  • Assisting with legal and/or paralegal problems.
  • Administering the employment authorization program.
  • Serving as primary liaison between the UN community and the City of New York on diplomatic parking and other municipal or local issues.
  • Assisting the diplomatic community with requests for airport arrival or departure courtesies.
  • Serving as the United States representative on the UN's Committee on Relations with the Host Country.


USUN/NY Political Office

The Political Affairs Section of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN) in New York is looking for several highly motivated interns to support the political team on a wide variety of cross-cutting Security Council issues. Managing high profile issues ranging from the situations in Ukraine and Syria to peacekeeping in Africa, the political team is at the forefront of multilateral policy-making in New York and provides a unique opportunity for those interested in UN affairs a front seat to highly engaging and interesting issues that affect all 193 Member States of the United Nations. Those selected will serve as note takers, attend negotiations with experts, draft cables, conduct research, create spreadsheets, provide escorts to visiting officials, and support other activities as needed. Applicants should have strong writing skills and be adept at PowerPoint and Excel and other Microsoft products.

USUN/NY MR Office

The U.S. Mission’s Management and Reform (MR) Section serves as the U.S. delegate to the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee and other committees which have responsibility for administrative and budgetary matters. MR works diligently to enhance and strengthen the oversight capacity and functions of the United Nations and other oversight bodies within the UN system. MR coordinates the U.S. position on the United Nation’s multi-billion dollar budgets for the organization’s operations including special political missions and war crimes tribunals as well as peacekeeping operations. MR seeks to ensure United Nations programs and activities are efficient, effective and properly managed. In addition, MR, in cooperation with our Economic and Social Affairs Section, provides oversight of the voluntarily-funded UN Funds and Programs, including the UNDP, UNICEF, and UNFPA.

USUN/NY Legal Office

USUN's Legal Section provides legal advice to the Permanent Representative, other Ambassadors and the entire Mission staff on legal issues that arise during the course of their work at the United Nations. In particular, the section provides legal advice, both substantive and procedural, relating to United States participation in the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly. The Legal Section's attorneys represent the United States in the Sixth (Legal) Committee of the General Assembly, which debates and examines international law issues, reviews the work of the International Law Commission and negotiates and drafts international legal instruments. USUN's attorneys also serve as representatives to various Committees, including the Credentials Committee, General Committee, the Security Council working groups on documentation and procedures and international criminal tribunals, and management committees for various tribunals.

USUN/NY MSC Office

The Military Staff Committee internship objective is to have the intern participate as an active member of the Military Staff Committee of the United States Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in achieving their two fold mission: representing the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff to the United Nations Military Staff Committee and advising the U.S. Permanent Representative and the staff of the U.S. Mission on military and security issues of United Nations peacekeeping operations. Specific duties and deliverables are to be determined at the start of the internship between the intern and their MSC supervisor, as the work in the MSC operates on real time and changes with current events. Likely duties may include assisting the outreach program of the Military Staff Committee, to follow and manage tasks associated with an emerging peacekeeping operation, follow and manage tasks for thematic issues of peacekeeping such as peacekeeping reform and humanitarian issues, and finally to research and develop an end of internship presentation on a topic of the intern’s choosing for the Military Staff Committee and Political Affairs office to observe.

USUN/NY IRM Office:

The incumbent will work within the Information Resource Management Office which is located in the U.S. Mission to the United Nations under the Management Section. The Information Management Office is comprised of three subsections: the Information Programs Center, the Information Systems Center, and the Mail and Pouch Unit. The Information Management Office is responsible for ensuring the confidentially, integrity, and availability of information on both the classified and unclassified networks, to include audio-visual services that are essential in implementing the President’s, Secretary of State’s, and U.S. Ambassador’s Foreign Policy objectives. The section also provides a host of IT goods and services to over 200 permanent users and more than 500 official visitors per year.

USUN/Regional Security Office (RSO):

The USUN’s Regional Security Office (RSO) is responsible for the safety and security of the USUN Mission and its personnel, is the primary liaison for law enforcement issues, and is the principle advisor to the Ambassador on all matters of security. The RSO seeks interns able to work in a dynamic, fast paced environment, who are innovative problem solvers, and interested in the most unique job in federal law enforcement. Interns will help draft intelligence and security related policy, attend meetings, plan and coordinate security operations, create spreadsheets, and conduct research.

USUN/NY Sanctions:

USUN's Sanctions and Counterterrorism Unit provides support to the USUN Front Office on all issues and meetings related to UN sanctions and counterterrorism policy. It provides strategic direction for the development and improved enforcement of current and future UN sanctions regimes, including on such issues as Iran, North Korea, Libya, South Sudan, Sudan/Darfur, and the Central African Republic. The Sanctions and Counterterrorism Unit negotiates sanctions-related Security Council resolutions, including resolutions to impose new sanctions and to renew/modify existing sanctions regimes. In addition to supporting Security Council meetings involving sanctions and counterterrorism issues, the Unit's members also represent the United States in meetings of the Security Council's sanctions committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC).

USUN/NY Human Resources (HR):

HR office provides the full array of personnel system support and services to Mission employees; oversees recruitment and hiring; manages intern and fellow programs for the Mission; and oversees the awards, EEO, and Federal Women’s programs.

USUN/ROME:

The United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN) Rome welcomes highly motivated and engaged interns in the Public Diplomacy and Political-Economic sections of the Mission’s office based in Rome, Italy. USUN Rome is the link between the U.S. Government and the UN Rome-based food/agriculture and other international organizations (IOs). USUN Rome works with six agencies headquartered in Rome including the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM). USUN Rome contributes to the IOs and public awareness on issues such as food security, refugee/famine assistance, humanitarian and gender issues, nutrition, biotechnology, access to justice, commercial law harmonization, and cultural heritage.

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs conducts foreign relations with Mexico, Canada, Central and South America and the Caribbean. The offices under this bureau direct, coordinate, and supervise U.S. Government activities within this region, including political, economic, consular, public diplomacy and administrative management issues. This bureau prefers Spanish-, French-, or Portuguese-speaking/reading applicants.
  • Office of Andean Affairs (WHA/AND): The Office of WHA/AND is responsible for shaping, coordinating and implementing foreign policy in Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.
  • Office of Brazil and Southern Cone (WHA/BSC): The Office of WHA/BSC coordinates interagency policies and programs of the U.S. Government that relate to the countries of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
  • Office of Canadian Affairs (WHA/CAN): The Office of Canadian Affairs (WHA/CAN) is responsible for day-to-day management of relations between the U.S. and Canada.
  • Office of Caribbean Affairs (WHA/CAR): The Office of WHA/CAR is responsible for managing relations with the island nations and dependencies of the Caribbean (Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles). It is the Department’s principal liaison with the 13 Caribbean embassies, which maintain a presence in Washington.
  • Office of the Coordinator for Cuban Affairs (WHA/CCA): The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs’ Office of the Coordinator for Cuban Affairs (CCA) is the focal point within the U.S. Government for developing, coordinating, recommending, and executing U.S. policy on Cuba.
  • Office of Central American Affairs (WHA/CEN): The Office of WHA/CEN is responsible for the management of U.S. relations for Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize.
  • Office of Economic Policy and Summit Coordination (WHA/EPSC): The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs’ Office of Economic Policy and Summit Coordination (EPSC) creates and implements U.S. foreign policy relating to trade, energy, finance, macroeconomic, and ESTH issues, as well as organizing policy for the Summit of the Americas process.
  • Western Hemisphere Affairs Executive Office (WHA/EX): The Executive Office (EX) is the focal point for providing management support services to our WHA domestic offices and overseas missions (28 Embassies, 14 Consul Generals, six Consulates, one U.S. Interest Section, and one American Presence Post).
  • Western Hemisphere Affairs Mexico Desk (WHA/MEX): The WHA/MEX Desk is responsible for the relations between the United States and Mexico. In addition to political and economic matters, other issues that the office deals with include the environment, migration, and drug enforcement.
  • Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (WHA/PDA): The Office of WHA/PDA oversees the public diplomacy activities carried out by WHA posts abroad to promote understanding of the United States and advocate and advance U.S. policy.
  • Office of Policy Planning and Coordination (WHA/PPC): The Office of Policy Planning and Coordination (WHA/PPC) coordinates all socio-political issues that extend beyond a single geographic office (e.g., security assistance, counternarcotics, human rights, labor, international organizations issues). PPC has the lead on strategic planning and evaluation for the bureau, including coordination of policy, program, and foreign assistance funding.