The current Secretary of State is Hillary Rodham Clinton. On a personal note, I do not care for Secretary Clinton. However, on a professional level, I believe she was a superb choice for Secretary of State. However, have you ever wondered why she was appointed Secretary of State? The thought that crossed my mind is that the President can’t fire a Senator, but he can fire a Secretary of State. Just a thought.
The Secretary of State is the President’s chief advisor on foreign affairs and carries out the President’s Foreign Policy decisions.
If you’re a fan of Big Government, you’ll just love the State Department. If not, you’ll gasp as you continue. I don't even know why we need any other departments. State seems to have their hands in every government pie. Please keep in mind the red comments are mine. Everything else came from the State Department’s web site.
Under the Secretary, are the following:
1. Deputy Secretary
a. The Deputy Secretary serves as the principal deputy, adviser, and alter ego to the Secretary; serves as Acting Secretary in the Secretary's absence; and assists the Secretary in the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy and in giving general supervision and direction to all elements of the Department.
2. Director (Deputy Secretary equivalent) of US Foreign Assistance and USAID
a. The Director is charged with directing the transformation of the U.S. Government approach to foreign assistance. The Director serves concurrently as USAID Administrator, ensuring that foreign assistance is used as effectively as possible to meet broad foreign policy objectives.
3. Counselor of the Department
a. The Counselor is a principal officer who serves the Secretary as a special advisor and consultant on major problems of foreign policy and who provides guidance to the appropriate bureaus with respect to such matters. The Counselor conducts special international negotiations and consultations, and also undertakes special assignments, as directed by the Secretary.
4. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security serves as Senior Adviser to the President and the Secretary of State for Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament.
a. Bureau of International Security and Non-Proliferation
i. The Bureau spearheads efforts to promote international consensus on WMD proliferation through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy; leads the development of diplomatic responses to specific bilateral and regional WMD proliferation challenges, including today's threats posed by Iran, North Korea, and Syria. Develops and supports strategic dialogues with India, Pakistan, China, and other key states or groups of states. Addresses 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); works 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 supports efforts of the international community to prevent, protect against, and respond to the threat or use of WMD by terrorists; leads coordination for the U.S. government's as co-chair to the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, a partnership of 75 countries (and growing) committed to preventing, protecting against, and responding to nuclear terrorism.
ii. I’ve highlighted the only fly in the ointment here. The highlighted statement is an action mission. The State Department is a talking department. Move this part of the mission to the Department of Defense or the Central Intelligence Agency.
b. Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
i. The Bureau is the Department's principal link to the Department of Defense. The Bureau provides policy direction in the areas of international security, security assistance, military operations, defense strategy and plans, and defense trade.
ii. The Bureau's activities are central to four of the Department of State's strategic goals:
1. Achieving Peace and Security: Plays a key role in achieving peace and security around the world by: managing and regulating defense trade and arms transfers to reinforce the military capabilities of friends, allies, and coalition partners, and to ensure that the transfer of U.S.-origin defense equipment and technology supports U.S. national security interests; promoting regional security through bilateral and multilateral cooperation and dialogue, as well as through the provision of security assistance to friendly countries and international peacekeeping efforts; providing diplomatic support to U.S. military operations, including the negotiation of status of forces, defense cooperation, base access, cost-sharing, and Article 98/ICC non-surrender agreements; countering the destructive effects of conventional weapons by clearing landmines and reducing the availability of at-risk small arms and light weapons to include man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS); and countering terrorism and responding to crises by managing and sustaining coalitions, working with the Department of Defense on strategic and contingency planning to include counterinsurgency policy, and reinforcing the capabilities of friends and allies to respond to respond to humanitarian and natural disaster.
2. Governing Justly and Democratically: Promotes American values of democracy, respect for human rights, and civilian control of military forces by funding training that exposes the armed forces and civilian personnel of other countries to these values and to the professionalism of the U.S. military.
3. Providing Humanitarian Assistance: Manages humanitarian mine action programs around the world, promotes public-private mine action partnerships, and works with the Defense Department to provide assistance in the event of natural disasters and other crises abroad.
4. Strengthening Consular and Management Capabilities: Continues to develop, refine, and maintain information technologies that support defense trade and diplomatic support for U.S. military operations.
c. Bureau of Verification, Compliance, and Implementation
i. The Bureau's core missions are to ensure that appropriate verification requirements and capabilities are fully considered and properly integrated throughout the development, negotiation, and implementation of arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament agreements and commitments and to ensure that other countries' compliance is carefully watched, rigorously assessed, appropriately reported, and resolutely enforced. In this regard, the Bureau is responsible for preparing the President's annual report to Congress on Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments. The Bureau is further required to prepare verifiability assessments on proposals and agreements, and to report these to Congress, as required. The Bureau also prepares the President's semi-annual Iran, North Korea, Syria Nonproliferation Report to Congress, which identifies entities that engage in the transfer of controlled items to and from Iran, North Korea, and Syria and authorizes the imposition of sanctions against these entities.
5. Under Secretary for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs serves as the senior economic official at the State Department; advises the Secretary of State on international economic policy; and leads the work of the Department on issues ranging from trade, agriculture, and aviation to bilateral relations with America's economic partners. The Under Secretary is also the State Department's Coordinator for International Energy Affairs.
a. Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs
i. EEB's mission is to promote economic security and prosperity at home and abroad. The Bureau's work lies at the critical nexus of economic prosperity and national security. As the single point where international economic policy tools and threads converge, we help promote a coherent economic policy across the U.S. Government. This administration's economic leadership has resulted in an impressive record of positive change. EEB accomplishes its mission through a "Total Economic Engagement" approach that strategically analyzes and employs all of the economic engagement tools of the U.S. Government. On this site you will find links and resources for all of these tools and the ways the U.S. Department of State and EEB are engaged to implement U.S. foreign economic policy.
ii. This appears to be bureaucrat speak that is not translatable. However, GUNNER’S VIEW is that this bureau could be split between the Departments of the Treasury, Agricultural, and Energy.
6. Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs coordinates U.S. foreign relations on a variety of global issues, including democracy, human rights, and labor; environment, oceans, health and science; population, refugees, and migration; women's issues; and trafficking in persons and avian and pandemic influenza.
a. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
i. Promoting freedom and democracy and protecting human rights around the world are central to U.S. foreign policy. The United States supports those persons who long to live in freedom and under democratic governments that protect universally accepted human rights. The United States uses a wide range of tools to advance a freedom agenda, including bilateral diplomacy, multilateral engagement, foreign assistance, reporting and public outreach, and economic sanctions. The United States is committed to working with democratic partners, international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, and engaged citizens to support those seeking freedom.
b. Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs
i. The Bureau promotes transformational diplomacy through advancing environmental stewardship, encouraging economic growth, and promoting social development around the globe to foster a safer, more secure and hopeful world.
1. What did they say??
ii. Nearly 200 employees further these goals through programs and activities concerning infectious diseases, biodiversity, climate change, access to water and energy, ocean and polar affairs, science and technology cooperation, management of toxic chemicals, environmental components of trade agreements, and the exploration of space. In addition, the Bureau represents the United States at major international negotiations. Together, these activities demonstrate the Bureau's commitment to policies that make concrete improvements in people's lives.
iii. The Oceans and Fisheries Directorate has two offices dedicated to international oceans issues. The Office of Marine Conservation has primary responsibility for the international conservation and management of living marine resources, including efforts to manage shared commercial fisheries on a sustainable basis and to reduce impacts of fishing on protected species and vulnerable marine ecosystems. The Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs has primary responsibility for international ocean law and policy, marine pollution, marine mammals, polar affairs, maritime boundaries, and marine science.
iv. The Environment Directorate deals with a broad range of global issues related to protecting the environment and conserving natural resources. The Office of Environmental Policy coordinates U.S. approaches to transboundary air quality issues, safeguarding the stratospheric ozone layer and environmentally sound chemicals management. The office also handles environmental aspects of free trade agreements and environmental issues in multilateral organizations such as the U.N. Environment Program and in international financial institutions. The Office of Ecology and Natural Resource Conservation coordinates U.S. approaches to international wildlife and forest issues, including partnership in the global Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking, the U.S. Initiative Against Illegal Logging, the Congo Basin Forest Partnership and the Liberia Forest Initiative. The office also handles issues related to the conservation of coral reefs, wetlands and drylands, access to genetic resources, and control of invasive species. Taking the lead on climate change issues, including polices and partnerships that span a wide range of initiatives, is the Office of Global Change.
v. The Health, Space and Science Directorate includes the Office of International Health and Bio-defense which works with U.S. Government agencies to facilitate policy-making regarding infectious disease, surveillance and response, environmental health, and health in post-conflict situations. The Office of Space and Advanced Technology handles issues arising from our exploration of space to assure global security regarding this new frontier, and the Office of Science & Technology (S&T) Cooperation promotes the interests of the U.S. science and technology communities in the international policy arena, negotiates framework and other S&T agreements, manages the Department's Embassy Science fellows program, and takes a leading role in representing U.S. science and technology in multilateral international organizations, such as UNESCO and other UN organizations, APEC, OECD, and others.
vi. The Office of Policy Coordination and Initiatives promotes policy coherence, supports the development of new initiatives, and leads strategic planning efforts on the full range of OES issues - involving oceans, environment, science & technology, and health. PCI focuses regionally and on emerging cross-cutting issues to ensure that the U.S. deploys "smart diplomacy" effectively by integrating these OES priorities to promote sustainable development and advance U.S. foreign policy objectives at the bilateral, regional and global level. The office provides guidance to and coordinates OES activities extensively with the State Department's bilateral Environment, Science, Technology and Health (ESTH) officers and Regional Environment Offices in U.S. embassies around the world.
vii. This particular Bureau seems to cross over into areas that rightfully belong to the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Coast Guard, and both the Public Health Service and the Center for Disease Control.
c. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
i. The Bureau provides aid and sustainable solutions for refugees, victims of conflict and stateless people around the world, through repatriation, local integration, and resettlement in the United States. It also promotes the United States' population and migration policies.
d. Office of the Science and Technology Advisor
i. The mission of the Office is to serve the U.S. national interest by promoting global scientific and technological progress as integral components of US diplomacy.
ii. The core objectives of the Office are:
1. Building partnerships with the national and international scientific communities
2. Providing accurate scientific and technological advice to the Department of State
3. Enhancing science and technology literacy and capacity within the Department of State
4. Shaping a global perspective on emerging and envisioned scientific and technological developments
e. Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
i. The Office provides the tools to combat trafficking in persons and assists in the coordination of anti-trafficking efforts both worldwide and domestically. (i.e. suppression of slavery)
7. Under Secretary for Management
a. Bureau of Administration: provides support programs to the Department of State and U.S. embassies and consulates. These programs include: real property and facilities management; procurement; supply and transportation; diplomatic pouch and mail services; official records, publishing, and library services; language services; setting allowance rates for U.S. Government personnel assigned abroad and providing support to the overseas schools educating their dependents; overseeing safety and occupational health matters; small and disadvantaged business utilization; and support for both White House travel abroad and special conferences called by the President or Secretary of State.
i. Office of Allowances: The office compiles statistics of living costs abroad, quarters allowances, hardship differentials, and danger pay allowances and computes the established allowances to compensate U.S. Government civilian employees for costs and hardships related to assignments abroad. The office is also responsible for establishing maximum per diem rates for foreign areas.
ii. Authentications Office is responsible for signing and issuing certificates under the Seal of the U.S. Department of State (22 CFR, Part 131) providing authentication services to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals on documents that will be used overseas. This office receives a variety of documents from commercial organizations, private citizens, and officials of the Federal and State governments. Documents include but not limited to: company bylaws, powers of attorney, trademarks, diplomas, transcripts, distributorship agreements, articles of incorporation, good standing certificates, home studies, letters of reference etc. It also ensures that the requested information will serve in the interest of justice and is not contrary to U.S. policy.
b. Bureau of Information Management
i. The Bureau of Information Resource Management provides the information technology and services the Department needs to successfully carry out its foreign policy mission.
c. Diplomatic Security Service
i. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the security and law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of State. DS is a world leader in international investigations, threat analysis, cyber security, counterterrorism, security technology, and protection of people, property, and information. Every diplomatic mission in the world operates under a security program designed and maintained by Diplomatic Security. In the United States, Diplomatic Security personnel protect the Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States, investigates passport and visa fraud, and conducts personnel security investigations. Operating from a global platform in 25 U.S. cities and 159 foreign countries, DS ensures that America can conduct diplomacy safely and securely. DS plays a vital role in protecting U.S. embassies and personnel overseas, securing critical information systems, investigating passport and visa fraud, and fighting the war on terror.
ii. It is GUNNER’S VIEW that the mission of the Diplomatic Security Service should be split between the Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Marshall’s Service and the Department of Defense.
iii. Office of Foreign Missions
1. Mandated by Congress, the Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) provides the legal foundation to facilitate secure and efficient operations of U.S. missions abroad, and of foreign missions and international organizations in the United States. In doing so, OFM serves the interests of the American public, the American diplomatic community abroad, and the foreign diplomatic community residing in the United States to see that all diplomatic benefits, privileges, and immunities are properly exercised in accordance with federal and international laws. As part of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, OFM works closely with the Bureau's Protective Liaison Division and the Foreign Missions Branch of the U.S. Secret Service to ensure the safety and security of the foreign missions and their personnel.
d. Foreign Service Institute
i. The Federal Government's primary training institution for officers and support personnel of the U.S. foreign affairs community, preparing American diplomats and other professionals to advance U.S. foreign affairs interests overseas and in Washington. The FSI provides more than 450 courses -- including some 70 foreign languages -- to more than 50,000 enrollees a year from the State Department and more than 40 other government agencies and the military service branches. The Institute's programs include training for the professional development of Foreign Service administrative, consular, economic/commercial, political, and public diplomacy officers; for specialists in the fields of information management, office management, security, and medical practitioners and nurses; for Foreign Service Nationals who work at U.S. posts around the world; and for Civil Service employees of the State Department and other agencies. Ranging in length from a half-day to 2 years, courses are designed to promote successful performance in each professional assignment, to ease the adjustment to other countries and cultures, and to enhance the leadership and management capabilities of the U.S. foreign affairs community. Other courses and services help family members prepare for the demands of a mobile lifestyle and living abroad.
e. Bureau of Human Resources
i. Handles recruitment, assignment evaluation, promotion, discipline, career development, and retirement policies and programs for the Department's Foreign and Civil Service employees.
ii. It is GUNNER’S VIEW that this function should belong to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
f. Office of Management Policy, Rightsizing, and Innovation
i. Management Policy Staff provides analysis of cross-cutting issues for the Under Secretary for Management and other senior managers in the Department.
1. The Staff manages and coordinates press and public outreach in addition to Congressional outreach for the entire family of bureaus; Coordinates and oversees the Department’s initiatives within the President’s Management Agenda; Manages the Accountability Review Board function for the Secretary of State; Acts as liaison with the Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office; Provides advice and recommendations for cross-cutting issues when impasse is reached; Sets the policy for the Department’s central system data warehouse.
ii. Rightsizing Staff provides expertise to senior managers on chief of mission authority.
1. The Staff manages the NSDD-38 and country clearance processes; Conducts overseas staffing reviews of all missions on a rolling 5-year basis, as well as prior to planning any new embassy construction, in order to determine the minimum human resources required to meet foreign policy goals; Identifies potential efficiencies through outsourcing, empowerment of local staff, regionalization, and other rightsizing techniques; Works with the Office of Management and Budget to provide advice and guidance regarding the President’s Management Agenda for Rightsizing the entire U.S. Government presence overseas; Serves as the principal Department interlocutor with other agency headquarters on management issues overseas to facilitate interagency cooperation, eliminate duplicative activity, and optimize productivity; With USAID counterparts, manages the day-to-day activities of the Joint Management Council to ensure ongoing consolidation of overseas management platforms.
iii. Innovation Staff serves as the primary representative to the Regional Initiatives Council and leads regionalization/standardization activities, especially those with an overseas focus.
1. The Staff provides expertise in performance measurement and Department-wide management best practices to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction; Is the first liaison with the International Cooperative Administrative Support Services Service Center and with private-sector experts in quality improvement; Is the business case manager for Post Administrative Software Suite and serves as co-chair of the PASS steering committee; Serves as co-chair with the Office of Medical Services of the Avian Influenza Working Group to ensure that the Department is able to function in case of global pandemic.
g. Office of Medical Services
8. Under Secretary for Political Affairs serves as the day-to-day manager of overall regional and bilateral policy issues, and oversees the bureaus for Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, the Near East, South and Central Asia, the Western Hemisphere, International Organizations and International Narcotics and Law Enforcement.
a. Bureau of African Affairs
i. The division of the Department of State that advises the Secretary about sub-Saharan Africa. The Bureau's priority is conflict resolution With U.S. support, since 2002 violent conflicts have ended in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the North-South element of the Sudan crisis.
b. Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
i. The Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. relations with the countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
c. Bureau of Eurasian and European Affairs
i. The Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs implements U.S. foreign policy in Europe and Eurasia. The Bureau promotes U.S. interests in the region on issues such as national security, NATO enlargement, coordination with the European Union and other regional organizations, support for democracy, human rights, civil society, economic prosperity, the war on terrorism, and nonproliferation.
ii. It is GUNNER’S VIEW that there is duplication of effort (i.e. waste) between this Bureau, the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, the Bureau of International Security and Non-Proliferation, and the Department of Homeland Security.
d. Bureau of Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
i. The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) advises the President, Secretary of State, other bureaus in the Department of State, and other departments and agencies within the U.S. Government on the development of policies and programs to combat international narcotics and crime. INL programs support two of the Department's strategic goals: (1) to reduce the entry of illegal drugs into the United States; and (2) to minimize the impact of international crime on the United States and its citizens. Counternarcotics and anticrime programs also complement the war on terrorism, both directly and indirectly, by promoting modernization of and supporting operations by foreign criminal justice systems and law enforcement agencies charged with the counter-terrorism mission.
ii. More duplication of effort and empire building. Split this Bureau up, with the narcotics mission going to the Drug Enforcement Agency and the remainder to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
e. Bureau of International Organization Affairs
i. The Bureau strives to advance U.S. interests through international organizations in areas including human rights, peacekeeping, food security, humanitarian relief, and climate change.
ii. And we do this why? We have enough problems at home, we do not need to be meddling in these areas in other nations.
f. Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
i. The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. diplomatic relations with Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Regional policy issues that NEA handles include Iraq, Middle East peace, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and political and economic reform.
g. Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
i. The Bureau deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. relations with the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
h. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
i. The Bureau is responsible for managing and promoting U.S. interests in the region by supporting democracy, trade, and sustainable economic development, and fostering cooperation on issues such as drug trafficking and crime, poverty reduction, and environmental protection.
9. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs leads America's public diplomacy outreach, which includes communications with international audiences, cultural programming, academic grants, educational exchanges, international visitor programs, and U.S. Government efforts to confront ideological support for terrorism.
a. Bureau of Consular Affairs
i. The mission of the Bureau of Consular Affairs is to protect the lives and interests of American citizens overseas and to strengthen U.S. border security. Deal with events and issues that have a personal impact: birth, death, marriage, adoption, child custody, citizenship, and relocation to another country. Provide passports that enable Americans to travel internationally and stand ready to lend a helping hand when citizens fall victim to crime, accident or illness in other countries, or just want to vote absentee. Consular officers overseas are responsible for issuing all non-immigrant and immigrant visas. Share data with other agencies to facilitate identification of legitimate travelers at ports of entry and to expose impostors. The Bureau of Consular Affairs supports over 10,000 people working in 211 embassies and consulates overseas, as well as in Washington, DC and at seventeen domestic Passport Agencies and two regional visa processing centers.
b. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
i. The Bureau fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world. ECA accomplishes its mission through a variety of international programs based on the benefits of mutual understanding, educational exchange, and leadership development. ECA programs engage participants from a variety of backgrounds and specialties.
ii. Excuse me? We’re paying for what?? This shop needs to be closed down, or change its name to Bureau of Meddling in Affairs That are None of Our Business.
c. Bureau of International Information Programs
i. The Bureau communicates with foreign publics, including opinion makers and youth, about U.S. policy, society, and values. IIP engages foreign publics through speaker programs, print outreach, and the web in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Persian, Russian, and Spanish. The Bureau also provides policy and technical support of official embassy websites and develops new social networking and PD 2.0 outreach tools.
d. Office of Policy, Planning and Resources for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
i. The Office 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.
e. Bureau of Public Affairs
i. The Bureau carries out the Secretary's mandate to help Americans understand the importance of foreign affairs. The Bureau vigorously pursues the Department's mission to inform the American people and to feed their concerns and comments back to the policymakers. It accomplishes this in a variety of ways.
10. Coordinator for Counterterrorism
a. The primary mission of the Office is to forge partnerships with non-state actors, multilateral organizations, and foreign governments to advance the counterterrorism objectives and national security of the United States. Working with our U.S. Government counterterrorism team, S/CT takes a leading role in developing coordinated strategies to defeat terrorists abroad and in securing the cooperation of international partners.
i. Shouldn’t this belong to the Central Intelligence Agency?
11. Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization
a. The Core Mission is to lead, coordinate and institutionalize U.S. Government civilian capacity to prevent or prepare for post-conflict situations, and to help stabilize and reconstruct societies in transition from conflict or civil strife, so they can reach a sustainable path toward peace, democracy and a market economy.
i. Shouldn’t this belong to the Federal Emergency Management Agency?
12. Chief of Staff
a. Handles all of the day-to-day matters of the Secretary, including meetings at the Department, functions in Washington and throughout the country, and travel around the world.
b. Executive Secretariat
i. Comprised of the Executive Secretary and four Deputy Executive Secretaries, is responsible for coordination of the work of the Department internally, serving as the liaison between the Department's bureaus and the offices of the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Under Secretaries. It also handles the Department's relations with the White House, National Security Council, and other Cabinet agencies.
13. Office of Civil Rights
a. Advises and assists the Secretary and other principal officers in equal employment opportunity (EEO) policy and diversity management issues that relate to the Department of State.
14. Office of Global AIDS Coordinator
a. The U. S. Global AIDS Coordinator's mission is to lead implementation of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR was launched in 2003, and is the largest commitment ever by any nation for an international health initiative dedicated to a single disease - a comprehensive approach to combating HIV/AIDS around the world. Under PEPFAR, the U.S. Government has committed more than $25 billion to the fight against global AIDS.
b. Here’s another place we should be spending our money! Funds that the US spends in any kind of health care for other nations, in GUNNER’s VIEW, would be better off being used to implement President Obama’s Health Insurance program in the United States.
15. Office of Global Women’s Issues
a. The Office of the Senior Coordinator for International Women's Issues serves as the Department's coordinating body for all foreign policy issues related to the political, economic, and social advancement of women in democracy worldwide. Recognizing that the full and equal participation of women in the political, economic, and social spheres of society is a key ingredient for democratic development, the mandate of this Office is to mobilize concrete support for greater women's empowerment, promote greater awareness of gender-based violence and discrimination, and to ensure that women's human rights are considered along with, not segregated from, other human rights in the development of U.S. foreign policy.
i. You have got to be $#@^^@*% me! I’m a married man, twice divorced, with 1 daughter and 3 granddaughters, I have yet to be able to keep one woman at a time happy. The State Department wants to keep all of the women in the world happy at once! Now that’s a mission!! It’s also a waste of my tax dollars. This office should be merged into the Bureau of Meddling in Affairs That are None of Our Business.
16. Inspector General
a. 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.
i. In GUNNER’S VIEW the job of the OIG is important. However, self-policing isn’t always successful. I recommend that Congress move all OIG functions of all federal departments and agencies to the General Accountability Office. Then they need to give GAO some teeth.
17. Office of Intelligence and Research
a. The Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), drawing on all-source intelligence, provides value-added independent analysis of events to Department policymakers, ensures that intelligence activities support foreign policy and national security purposes; and serves as the focal point in the Department for ensuring policy review of sensitive counterintelligence and law enforcement activities. INR's primary mission is to harness intelligence to serve U.S. diplomacy. The bureau also analyzes geographical and international boundary issues. INR is a member of the U.S. intelligence community.
b. It’s GUNNER’S VIEW that pulling the INR out of State and moving it either to CIA or directly under the Director of National Intelligence would be more appropriate.
18. Office of the Legal Advisor
a. Furnishes advice on all legal issues, domestic and international, arising in the course of the Department's work. This includes assisting Department principals and policy officers in formulating and implementing the foreign policies of the United States, and promoting the development of international law and its institutions as a fundamental element of those policies. The Office is organized to provide direct legal support to the Department's various bureaus, including both regional and geographic offices and functional offices .
19. Bureau of Legislative Affairs
a. Coordinates legislative activity for the Department and advises the Secretary, the Deputy, the Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries on legislative strategy. Facilitates effective communication between Department officials and the Members of Congress and their staffs. Works closely with authorizing, appropriations, and oversight committees of the House and Senate, as well as with individual Members that have an interest in State Department or foreign policy issues. Manages Department testimony before House and Senate hearings, organizes Member and staff briefings, and facilitates Congressional travel to overseas posts for Members and staff throughout the year. Reviews proposed legislation and coordinates Statements of Admini stration Policy on legislation affecting the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. The staff advises individual Bureaus of the Department on legislative and outreach strategies and coordinates those strategies with the Secretary's priorities. The Secretary is the principal Congressional Relations Officer of the Department. Supports the Secretary by ensuring that the administration's foreign policy priorities are reflected throughout the legislative process. Coordinates the annual testimony provided by the Secretary to Congressional committees with jurisdiction over State programs to explain Department priorities and budget requirements. The bureau succeeds in its overall mission by seeking passage of relevant foreign policy legislation and appropriations, obtaining advice and consent to treaties, as well as confirmation of the President's Departmental and Ambassadorial nominees by the Senate.
20. Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations
a. The Bureau directs the worldwide overseas buildings program for the Department of State and the U.S. Government community serving abroad under the authority of the chiefs of mission. In concert with other State Department bureaus, foreign affairs agencies, and Congress, OBO sets worldwide priorities for the design, construction, acquisition, maintenance, use, and sale of real properties and the use of sales proceeds.
21. Policy Planning Staff
a. Serves as a source of independent policy analysis and advice for the Secretary of State. The Policy Planning Staff'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.
22. Office of the Chief of Protocol
a. The office is responsible for activities including the planning, hosting, and officiating of ceremonial events for visiting chiefs of state and heads of government, as well as coordinating logistics for the visits; managing Blair House, the President's guesthouse; and overseeing all protocol matters for Presidential or Vice Presidential travel abroad.
23. Bureau of Resource Management
a. The Bureau assists foreign affairs agency heads with developing policies, plans, and programs to achieve foreign policy goals. The Assistant Secretary of RM and Chief Financial Officer also coordinates resource requirements to enable the Secretary to present integrated international affairs resource submissions to the OMB and to the Congress.
24. Office of War Crimes Issues
a. Advises the Secretary and formulates U.S. policy responses to atrocities committed in areas of conflict and elsewhere throughout the world. The office coordinates U.S. Government support for war crimes accountability in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, Iraq, and other regions where crimes have been committed against civilian populations on a massive scale. The office works closely with other governments, international institutions, and non-government organizations, and with the courts themselves, to see that international and domestic war crimes tribunals succeed in their efforts to bring those responsible for such crimes to justice. Additionally, since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the office has been responsible for negotiating the repatriation, to their home countries, of individuals detained by the United States for their involvement in terrorist activities.
Talk about wasted moneys and duplication of effort, the State Department is an excellent example of a bureaucracy that is out of control. If the Congress, or the President, were really interested in saving money and/or making government more efficient, State would be a good place to start. Of course, don't expect to see that in the Obama Administration or the Pelosi/Byrd controlled Congress.
God Bless.
Gunner Sends
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