Educational & Cultural Affairs (ECA)

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.
2017-08-08T13:38:07-04:00

East Asian & Pacific Affairs (EAP)

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.
2017-08-08T13:32:57-04:00

Office of Foreign Missions (M/OFM)

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.

2017-09-14T10:58:38-04:00

Counterterrorism (CT)

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.

2017-08-08T13:23:35-04:00

Comptroller and Global Financial Services (CGFS)

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.
2017-08-08T12:28:30-04:00

Consular Affairs (CA)

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.
2017-08-08T12:12:37-04:00

Budget and Planning (BP)

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.

2017-08-08T12:10:41-04:00

African Affairs (AF)

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.
2020-11-17T12:44:48-05:00

Administration (A)

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.
2017-08-08T12:00:59-04:00
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