The policy planning staff has less than a dozen individuals, but team members have a range of backgrounds, from career government officials with expertise on foreign policy, arms control, intelligence and military matters, to outside specialists such as think tank experts, university academics, business consultants and economists.
• Directs an internal think tank for the Department of State that studies regional and functional issues, identifies policy gaps and formulates recommendations to address these gaps, while working with the academic and nongovernmental communities.
• Provides policy alternatives to the secretary of state.
• Works with the department’s functional and regional bureaus and interagency partners to coordinate and integrate U.S. government policy.
• Manages the department’s Dissent Channel to share constructive criticism with the secretary and present differing views on foreign policy questions.
• Helps the secretary articulate policy and, with the assistance of the secretary’s speechwriters, prepares speeches, public remarks, congressional testimony and other published material.