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

Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights (J)

Formerly the Office of the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs and Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, J coordinates U.S. foreign relations on a variety of global issues, including democracy, labor and human rights, population and the environment, international scientific affairs, migration, and refugees. The Under Secretary oversees U.S. participation in the Community of Democracies, U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council and U.S.-Iraq Women’s Network initiatives. J has direct oversight of five bureaus: Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO); Counterterrorism (CT); Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL); International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL); and Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). Additional offices reporting to J include:

  • Office of Global Criminal Justice (J/GCJ): Formerly the Office of War Crimes Issues, this office advises the Secretary of State on U.S. efforts to address serious violations of international humanitarian law committed anywhere in the world, including the Balkans, Africa and Asia.
  • Office of Global Youth Issues (J/GYI): Oversees the effort to empower young people as economic and civil actors, and directly engage young people around the world.
  • Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP): The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons provides the tools to combat trafficking in persons and assists in the coordination of anti-trafficking efforts both worldwide and domestically.
2017-08-08T14:06:18-04:00

International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN)

The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) leads the Department of State’s efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD)—whether nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological—and their delivery systems, as well as destabilizing conventional weapons, including guns, tanks and attack helicopters. It does this by:

  • Spearheading efforts to promote international consensus on WMD proliferation through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy;
  • Addressing WMD proliferation threats posed by non-state actors and terrorist groups by improving physical security, using interdiction and sanctions, and actively participating in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and other programs to counter nuclear terrorism;
  • Coordinating the implementation of key international treaties and arrangements, working to make them relevant to today’s security challenges and working closely with the UN, the G-8, NATO, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international institutions and organizations to reduce and eliminate the threat posed by WMD; and
  • Supporting efforts of foreign partners to prevent, deter and respond to the threat or use of WMD by terrorists.

ISN offices include:

  • Multilateral Nuclear and Security Affairs (ISN/MNSA): Formulates and directs U.S. policy relating to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), safeguards controls on fissile material, and other multilateral nuclear issues pertaining to Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (NWFZ) treaties, the Group of Eight (G8) nations and the European Union.
  • Nuclear Energy, Safety and Security (ISN/NESS): Develops U.S. policy related to peaceful nuclear cooperation, the future of the international nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear safety, nuclear export controls, and the physical protection of nuclear materials and facilities.
  • Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR): Engages worldwide with countries, facilities, and scientists to keep weapons of mass destruction (WMD) expertise, materials, and equipment out of the hands of proliferators and terrorists.
  • Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (ISN/NDF): Rapid-response fund to exploit nonproliferation and disarmament opportunities, circumstances, or conditions that are unanticipated or unusually difficult (e.g., missile destruction, removal of fissile material).
  • Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism (ISN/WMDT): Develops policy and plans, directs initiatives, and coordinates partner capacity-building activities to prevent, protect against, and respond to the threat or use of nuclear, radiological, chemical, or biological weapons by terrorists. Leads the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, the Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative, the Nuclear Trafficking Response Group, and the Foreign Consequence Management Program.
  • Missile, Biological and Chemical Nonproliferation (ISN/MBC): Combats the proliferation of ballistic and cruise missiles capable of delivering WMD via the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and impedes proliferation of chemical and biological weapons via the Australia Group regime. Also responsible for coordinating interdiction, sanctions and associated export controls, and direct diplomacy with missile-possessing and technology- supplying countries.
  • Conventional Arms Threat Reduction (ISN/CATR): Leads USG efforts to curb the proliferation of advanced conventional weapons (ACW) such as Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), major weapons systems (tanks, aircraft, missiles), sensors and lasers, and precision-guided munitions.
  • Export Control Cooperation (ISN/ECC): Helps other countries improve their nonproliferation export control systems, including directly via the Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance (EXBS) program and by coordinating and strengthening nonproliferation export control assistance efforts of other USG agencies and other countries.
  • Biological Policy Staff (ISN/BPS): Leads USG coordination for the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and related biological policy issues.
  • Counterproliferation Initiatives (ISN/CPI): Develops and implements counterproliferation efforts designed to interdict or deny shipments of WMD and their means of delivery, to shut down illicit procurement and financial networks, and to promote compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions. Leads Department efforts related to the Proliferation Security Initiative and promoting observance of UN Security Council Resolution 1540.
  • Regional Affairs (ISN/RA): Leads the bureau’s work on diplomatic responses to nuclear threats posed by Iran, North Korea, and Syria. Develops and supports strategic dialogues with India, Pakistan, and China. Pursues regional nonproliferation strategies in key areas such as the Middle East and East Asia (including via the ASEAN Regional Forum).
  • Strategic Communications and Outreach (ISN/SCO): Supports the bureau’s interaction with Congress, the media, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and coordinates public diplomacy and outreach efforts in support of nonproliferation.
2017-08-08T14:05:18-04:00

Office of eDiplomacy (IRM/EDIP)

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

2017-08-08T14:03:05-04:00

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

Intelligence and Research (INR)

INR is a bureau of the Department of State and a member of the Intelligence Community (IC). The Bureau of Intelligence and Research’s (INR) primary mission is to harness intelligence to serve U.S. diplomacy. Secretary of State George Marshall established INR in 1947. INR is a direct descendant of the Office of Strategic Services Research Department and the oldest civilian intelligence element in the U.S. Government.

Drawing on all-source intelligence, INR provides value-added independent analysis of events to U.S. State Department policymakers; ensures that intelligence activities support foreign policy and national security purposes; and serves as the focal point in the State Department for ensuring policy review of sensitive counterintelligence and law enforcement activities around the world. The bureau directs the Department’s program of intelligence analysis and research, conducts liaison with the Intelligence Community, and represents the Department on committees and in interagency intelligence groups. The Bureau of Intelligence and Research also analyzes geographical and international boundary issues.

INR fulfills its mission through three key activities:

All-Source Analysis

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

Intelligence Policy and Coordination

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

Analytic Outreach

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

2019-03-21T14:20:45-04:00

Legislative Affairs (H)

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

2017-08-08T13:51:49-04:00

Foreign Service Institute (FSI)

Housed at the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center, FSI trains Department of State and other U.S. Government agency employees involved in foreign affairs and encourages research and other studies of new and developing areas of foreign policy concerns. FSI develops training materials for total curriculum including video and multimedia-based training courses. A critical function of FSI is to provide intensive instruction in over 60 languages, for Foreign Service Officers and other government employees assigned overseas. FSI also offers a variety of area studies courses that familiarize Foreign Service personnel with the specific geographic/cultural area to which they are assigned. The Institute also assists personnel and their families going to, or returning from, overseas assignments in cross- cultural and lifestyle adaptation, in addition to family and work adjustment/readjustment.

  • Leadership and Management School (FSI/LMS): The Leadership and Management School offers mandatory and elective leadership and management training for supervisors and managers from entry to executive levels, roundtables and policy seminars for senior leaders, and crisis management training overseas and at the Shultz Center. LMS oversees the Leadership and Managing Training Continuum to ensure participation by Foreign Service and Civil Service employees and works with bureaus and overseas missions to improve organizational effectiveness and crisis management.
  • Office of Public Affairs (FSI/OPA): The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Office of Public Affairs is a fast-paced, creative and collaborative office that offers an internship experience providing insight into public diplomacy, diplomatic training and foreign affairs. The office manages FSI’s Congressional Affairs and media relations, oversees the bureau’s social media and public-facing digital engagement, and spearheads a number of programmatic campaigns and initiatives such as the Heroes of U.S. Diplomacy initiative. For additional background on our work, intern applicants can refer to www.state.gov/fsi and follow links to our social media channels.
  • School of Applied Information Technology (FSI/SAIT): The School of Applied Information Technology provides training for the Department of State’s IT workforce, end-user training and IRM Tradecraft training for all levels at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI). In addition, SAIT provides training to users from other federal agencies and contractor employees on a reimbursement basis.
  • School of Language Studies (FSI/SLS): The School of Language Studies helps students enhance their language learning skills as an aid in their FSI studies and as a foundation for advancing their learning while at post. In this office, Foreign Service Officers study over 70 languages split into different areas: East Asian and Pacific languages (EAP), European and African languages (EUA), Near East, Central, and South Asian languages (NEA), Romance languages (ROM), Slavic, Pashto, and Persian languages (SPP).
  • School of Professional and Area Studies (FSI/SPAS): The School of Professional and Area Studies (SPAS) provides tradecraft, orientation, and area studies training for State Department employees, as well as employees from other U.S. government agencies. SPAS training prepares the full range of foreign affairs professionals to successfully advance U.S. government foreign policy goals and objectives by providing world class orientation and area studies training to the broadest possible community of Foreign and Civil Service professionals, as well as appropriate professional tradecraft training across all relevant fields. SPAS works with strategic partners across the Department of State, the U.S. government, and the academic and private sectors to continually deliver the highest quality training utilizing the latest knowledge about adult professional learning. SPAS provides hundreds of professional courses to all categories of Department personnel in a wide range of topics, namely, Orientation, Area Studies, Management, Consular, Public Diplomacy, Political, Economic/Commercial, and Office Management.
  • Transition Center (FSI/TC): The Transition Center (FSI/TC) helps prepare employees and their family members for effectiveness in the foreign affairs community transitions throughout, and after, their careers. It is comprised of the Training Division (TC/T), the Overseas Briefing Center (OBC), and the Career Transition Center (CTC).
2024-05-10T15:47:42-04:00

Office of Foreign Assistance Resources (F)

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

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