U.S. Mission to the Organization for American States

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.

2017-08-25T10:20:42-04:00

Office of Civil Rights (S/OCR)

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.

2020-05-26T11:18:52-04:00

Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

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.

2017-08-08T14:17:43-04:00

Overseas Building Operations (OBO)

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.

2017-08-08T14:14:30-04:00

Near East Asian Affairs (NEA)

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.
2017-08-08T14:11:20-04:00

International Organizations (IO)

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.
2017-09-14T10:34:44-04:00

Global Talent Management (GTM)

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.
2023-04-03T15:38:05-04:00

Family Liason Office (FLO)

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.

2017-08-08T13:46:46-04:00

Energy Resources (ENR)

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.

2017-08-08T13:41:33-04:00

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
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