Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs explained

Post:United States
Assistant Secretary of State
for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Insignia:U.S. Department of State official seal.svg
Insigniasize:120px
Insigniacaption:Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent:Jennifer R. Littlejohn (Acting)
Incumbentsince:May 1, 2023
Style:The Honorable
Reports To:Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment
Nominator:President of the United States
Formation:1975
Inaugural:Dixy Lee Ray
Website:Official Website
Flag:Flag of the United States Assistant Secretary of State.svg
Flagcaption:Flag of an Assistant Secretary of State

The Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs is the head of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs in the United States Department of State. Their mission is "to provide American leadership, diplomacy, and scientific cooperation to conserve and protect the global environment, ocean, and space for the prosperity, peace, and security of this and future generations".[1] The Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs reports to the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. The goal of the agency is to "Advance America's security and prosperity through international leadership on oceans, environment, science, space, and health".[2]

President Joe Biden nominated Monica Medina as Assistant Secretary on April 27, 2021.[3] Medina was confirmed by the Senate on September 28, 2021, by a vote of 61–36.[4] In 2023 President Biden appointed Jennifer Littlejohn as the new Assistant Secretary of state. Ms. Littlejohn is the assistant secretary of Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.[5] Prior to her current employment Jennifer was a deputy director of secretary of states policy planning staff. Her position required her to "serve as a source of independent policy analysis and advice for the Secretary of State" (Policy Planning Staff).[6] Her job mainly consists of developing considerations regarding policies throughout the organization. "The Assistant Secretary sees that such activities are designed and implemented in a manner that furthers overall U.S. foreign policy objectives" (1 FAM 504).[7]

Ms. Littlejohn has made great impacts to help benefit the environment; her most recent project Included her traveling to Sri Lanka, India, and Maldives to discuss climate change, plastic waste, air pollution, deforestation, and more. "In India from August 21 to 28, Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn will engage government officials on collaboration on scientific research, space exploration, combatting wildlife trafficking, and – in Chennai – support for river restoration through the Ambassador’s Water Experts Program" (state.gov).

Assistant Secretaries of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, 1975—present

NameAssumed officeLeft officePresident appointed by
1Dixy Lee RayJanuary 19, 1975June 20, 1975Gerald Ford
2Frederick IrvingApril 28, 1976March 26, 1977Gerald Ford
3Patsy T. MinkMarch 28, 1977May 1, 1978Jimmy Carter
4Thomas R. PickeringOctober 10, 1978February 24, 1981Jimmy Carter
5James L. MaloneJune 1, 1981July 22, 1985Ronald Reagan
6John NegroponteJuly 19, 1985November 23, 1987Ronald Reagan
7Frederick M. BernthalMay 24, 1988March 16, 1990Ronald Reagan
8E. U. Curtis BohlenJune 27, 1990October 31, 1992George H. W. Bush
9Elinor G. ConstableJune 2, 1993September 15, 1995Bill Clinton
10Eileen B. ClaussenJanuary 19, 1996[8] July 18, 1997Bill Clinton
11David B. SandalowOctober 28, 1999January 19, 2001Bill Clinton
12John F. TurnerNovember 13, 2001July 11, 2005George W. Bush
13Claudia A. McMurrayFebruary 21, 2006January 20, 2009George W. Bush
14Kerri-Ann JonesAugust 20, 2009April 25, 2014Barack Obama
-Judith G. Garber (acting)April 26, 2014September 7, 2017Barack Obama
Donald Trump
-vacantSeptember 7, 2017September 7, 2020Donald Trump
-Jonathan M. Moore (acting)September 8, 2020January 20, 2021Donald Trump
-vacantJanuary 20, 2021August 5, 2021Joe Biden
-Marcia Bernicat (acting)August 6, 2021September 28, 2021Joe Biden
15Monica MedinaSeptember 28, 2021April 28, 2023Joe Biden
-Jennifer R. Littlejohn (acting)May 1, 2023PresentJoe Biden

Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, 2014—2021

PortraitNameAssumed officeLeft officeTitle
April 26, 2014January 1, 2019(Acting Assistant Secretary April 26, 2014 – September 7, 2017) Senior Bureau Official September 8, 2017 – January 1, 2019
Marcia BernicatJanuary 1, 2019April 3, 2020Senior Bureau Official
Jonathan M. MooreApril 3, 2020September 7, 2020Senior Bureau Official April 3 – September 7 (named Acting Assistant Secretary September 8, 2020 - January 20, 2021)
Marcia BernicatJanuary 20, 2021August 5, 2021Senior Bureau Official January 20 – August 5 (named Acting Assistant Secretary August 6, 2021)
[9] [10] [11] [12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs . 2024-10-07 . United States Department of State . en-US.
  2. Web site: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs . 24 October 2021 . U.S. Department of State.
  3. Web site: President Biden Announces 12 Key Climate and Infrastructure Administration Nominations . The White House . 2 July 2021 . 22 April 2021.
  4. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation: Monica P. Medina, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs) . US Senate . 24 October 2021.
  5. https://www.state.gov/biographies/jennifer-r-littlejohn/
  6. https://www.state.gov/about-us-policy-planning-staff/
  7. https://fam.state.gov/fam/01fam/01fam0540.html#:~:text=The%20Assistant%20Secretary%20advises%20the,and%20the%20U.S.%20private%20sector.
  8. http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/biographies/claussen.html State Department Archived Biographies—Eileen B. Claussen
  9. https://www.state.gov/biographies/jennifer-r-littlejohn/
  10. https://www.state.gov/about-us-policy-planning-staff/
  11. https://fam.state.gov/fam/01fam/01fam0540.html#:~:text=The%20Assistant%20Secretary%20advises%20the,and%20the%20U.S.%20private%20sector.
  12. https://www.state.gov/acting-assistant-secretary-littlejohns-travel-to-sri-lanka-india-and-maldives/