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Director, Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance

Director, Office of U.s. Foreign Assistance, Department of State
Responsibility
Management Scope

In fiscal 2023, the Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance had an adjusted enacted budget of $15.93 million and 46 personnel.1

Primary Responsibilities
  • Leads and coordinates foreign assistance resources across the department and USAID.
  • Aligns foreign assistance resources to the secretary’s overarching foreign policy goals, including measuring effectiveness and promoting evidence-based policies, from budget formulation and justification to execution mechanisms.
  • Serves as a resource for the secretary, the deputy secretary, the undersecretaries, the USAID administrator and the heads of other departments and agencies that implement U.S. foreign assistance to support developing policies, plans and programs to achieve national security, foreign policy and development goals.
  • Leads integrated interagency program planning that amplifies foreign assistance by developing policies through research and partnerships that:
  • promote monitoring and evaluation
  • increase transparency
  • Facilitates data analysis, information management and reporting.
  • Supports interagency collaboration on foreign assistance programs and policies of other agencies and entities, including:
  • Millennium Challenge Corporation
  • S. International Development Finance Corporation
  • Department of the Treasury
  • Trade and Development Agency
  • Export-Import Bank
  • Peace Corps2
Strategic Goals and Priorities
Depends on the policy priorities of the administration
Requirements
  • Previous agency experience with an international focus preferred.
  • Significant management experience and working knowledge of overseeing foreign assistance resources.
Competencies
  • Ability to work collaboratively across teams and organizations.
  • Commitment to values of oversight, accountability and transparency.
  • Responsive to urgent demands with the ability to maintain long-term strategic planning.
Past Appointments
  • Dr. Tracy M. Carson (March 2024 to present): Deputy director, Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance, Department of State; regional director for Africa Region, Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance, Department of State; Global Health Initiative deputy, U.S. Global Health Initiative, Office of the Secretary, Department of State.3
  • James L. Richardson (2019 to 2021): Senior advisor and assistant to the administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development; chief of staff, Office of Representative Mike Pompeo; legislative assistant, Office of Representative Todd Tiahrt.4
  • Narahari Sastry (2014 to 2018): Deputy assistant secretary for Resource Management, Office of the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration, Department of Commerce; chief of the Veterans Affairs and Defense Branch, Office of Management and Budget; program examiner, Veterans Affairs and Defense Branch, Office of Management and Budget.5
AGENCY

Department of State

Mission: The Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of U.S. diplomacy and the secretary of state is the president’s principal foreign policy advisor.

COMPENSATION

Senior Executive Service. Not publicly available.

REPORTS TO

Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources

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Footnote
  1. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/508-compliant-FY-2024-CBJ-Appendix-1-Full-Document-Proof-Review-Complete.pdf
  2. https://fam.state.gov/FAM/01FAM/01FAM0030.html#M033
  3. Leadership Directories.
  4. Leadership Directories.
  5. Leadership Directories.
Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance, Formerly known as the Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance Resources.
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