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.

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Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA)

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.
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United States Mission to the UN (USUN)

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.

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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.

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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.

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South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA)

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.
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Office of the Secretary of State (S)

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.
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Policy, Planning, & Resources for Public Diplomacy & Public Affairs (R/PPR)

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.

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Political-Military Affairs (PM)

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.
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Public Affairs (PA)

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.
2017-09-14T10:20:24-04:00
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