Administrative Timeline of the Department of State

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## Administrative Timeline of the Department of State

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# 2010–2019

## January 26, 2010

A Department Notice announced the establishment of the Office of the Special                        Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs, which was intended to                        build relationships between state and local government officials in the                        United States and their foreign counterparts. Reta Jo Lewis was the first                        Special Representative.

## January 27, 2010

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs established a new Office of                        Policy, Regional, and Functional Organizations.

## April 7, 2010

A Department Notice announced the establishment of The Office of the                        Coordinator for the Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative. The Office                        included Deputy Coordinators for Diplomacy and for Development.

## August 16, 2010

Ten bureaus (International Security and Nonproliferation Affairs;                        Verification, Compliance, and Implementation; Political-Military Affairs;                        Foreign Service Institute; Population, Refugees and Migration; Medical                        Services; Public Affairs; Near Eastern Affairs; South and Central Asian                        Affairs, and the Office of the Legal Adviser) made the transition to HR                        Shared Services.

The Bureaus of European and Eurasian Affairs, International Organization                        Affairs, African Affairs, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Western                        Hemisphere Affairs followed on November 15.

## October 1, 2010

The Bureau of Verification, Compliance and Implementation was renamed the                        Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance.

## December 13, 2010

The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation was subdivided into                        three divisions, each headed by a Deputy Assistant Secretary. These were:                        Nuclear Affairs (comprising the Offices of Multilateral Nuclear and Security                        Affairs; Nuclear Energy, Safety, and Security; and Regional Affairs);                        Non-Nuclear and Counter-Proliferation (comprising the Offices of Missile,                        Biological, and Chemical Nonproliferation; Conventional Arms Threat                        Reduction; and Counter-Proliferation Initiatives and the Biological Policy                        Staff); and Non-Proliferation Programs (comprising the Nonproliferation and                        Disarmament Fund and the Offices of Cooperative Threat Reduction, Export                        Control Cooperation, Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism, and Strategic                        Communications and Outreach.).

## December 15, 2010

Secretary of State Clinton released Leading Through Civilian                            Power, the Department of State’s first Quadrennial Diplomacy and                        Development Review. It proposed that a Chief Economist be appointed as an                        adviser to the Secretary. The Secretary’s Office would include an Office of                        the Coordinator for Cyber Issues, and the Deputy Secretary would chair a                        “cyber advisory committee.” Three new bureaus would be established: Energy                        Resources would include the Offices of the International Energy Coordinator                        and the Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy; Conflict and Stabilization                        Operations would incorporate the Coordinator for Reconstruction and                        Stabilization; Counterterrorism would give assistant secretary status to the                        Coordinator for Counterterrorism.

The Under Secretary for Economics, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs would                        become the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment,                        and would oversee the bureaus of Economic and Business Affairs, Oceans and                        International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Energy Resources, the                        Chief Economist, and the Office of the Scientific and Technology                        Advisor.

The Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs’ title would be changed                        to “Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights,” and would oversee the                        Bureaus of Population, Refugees and Migration; Democracy, Human Rights, and                        Labor; International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; Conflict and                        Stabilization Operations; and the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking                        in Persons.

The Bureau of Public Affairs would receive a new deputy assistant secretary                        in charge of international media support. A Center for Strategic                        Counterterrorism Communications would be established.

## January 31–February 4, 2011

The Department of State hosted its first Global Chiefs of Mission Conference,                        in which all chiefs of U.S. diplomatic missions met in Washington to                        consider how to implement the recommendations of the Quadrennial Diplomacy                        and Development Review.

## February 2011

The Office of Coordinator for Cyber Issues was organized in the Office of the                        Secretary of State. Christopher Painter was the first to hold the                        position.

## June 21, 2011

An Office of the Comptroller was established in the Bureau of Consular                        Affairs to handle financial affairs.

## June 28, 2011

A Special Adviser to the Secretary for Global Youth Issues was appointed.                        Ronan Farrow held the position.

## October 14, 2011

The Bureau of Energy Resources was established. Ambassador Carlos Pascual, the Special Envoy and Coordinator for                        International Energy Affairs, became its Director.

## November 21, 2011

The Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations was established,                        replacing the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and                        Stabilization. Pending the appointment of an Assistant Secretary, Acting                        Coordinator Robert G. Loftis would be chief of the new bureau.

## December 8, 2011

In response to the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, the Office                        of the Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs changed                        its title to “the Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy,                        and the Environment.” It would now supervise the existing Bureaus of Oceans                        and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs and Economic and                        Business Affairs; the new Bureau of Energy Resources, the Office of the                        Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary, and a future Office of the                        Chief Economist.

## January 4, 2012

Also in response to the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, the                        Bureau of Counterterrorism replaced the Office of the Coordinator for                        Counterterrorism. Coordinator Daniel Benjamin became chief of the new Bureau.

## January 17, 2012

Under Secretary for Global Affairs Maria Otero assumed the new title of “Under Secretary of State                        for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.” The new position would                        oversee the Bureaus of: Conflict and Stabilization Operations;                        Counterterrorism; Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; International                        Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; and Population, Refugees, and                        Migration. It would also oversee the Offices of Global Criminal Justice                        (formerly War Crimes Issues), Global Youth Issues, and the Office to Monitor                        and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

## March 7, 2012

The Office of the Chief Economist was established, with Heidi Crebo-Rediker                        as the first Chief Economist, with rank equivalent to an Assistant                        Secretary. The Chief Economist was to report to the Secretary through the                        Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.

## June 29, 2012

The Under Secretary for Management assumed the additional title of Chief                        Financial Officer. The former Bureau of Resource Management was subdivided                        into two new Bureaus: Budget and Planning; and Comptroller and Global                        Financial Services. The functions of the former Office of Strategic Planning                        and Policy were subdivided between the two new bureaus. The new Bureau                        Directors would have rank equivalent to an Assistant Secretary. Barbara Retzlaff became Director of the Bureau of Budget and                        Planning. Jim Millette became Comptroller.

## August 10, 2012

P.L. 112-116, the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of                        2011, was signed into law. It removed the requirement of Senate confirmation                        for appointment to 163 high-level positions. Two of them, the Assistant                        Secretaries for Public Affairs and for Administration, were in the                        Department of State.

## October 16, 2012

Two offices within the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and                        Scientific Affairs were reorganized and redesignated. The Office of                        Environmental Policy became the Office of Environmental Quality and                        Transboundary Issues. The Office of Ecology and Conservation became the                        Office of Conservation and Water.

## December 2012

Establishment of the Office of Global Health Diplomacy. Ambassador Leslie Rowe was its first chief.

## August 7, 2013

Establishment of the Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives. Its purpose                        was to be link between the Department and religious organizations. Special                        Adviser Shaun Casey was its first chief.

## August 19, 2013

The Office of Shared Services and the Office of the Human Resources Shared                        Services Provider, both in the Bureau of Human Resources, were merged.

## January 13, 2014

The Department of State’s 29th domestic passport agency was opened in San                        Juan, Puerto Rico.

## February 10, 2014

An Africa Summit Policy Liaison Office was established in the Bureau of                        African Affairs. Its mission was to prepare for the first U.S.-Africa                        Leaders Summit, scheduled for August 5-6, 2014. Ambassador Michael A. Battle, previously U.S. Representative to the African                        Union, was Senior Adviser and head of the new Office.

## March 11, 2014

The Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment                        received the additional title of Senior Coordinator for International                        Information Technology Diplomacy.

## June 30, 2014

An Office of Security and Human Rights was established in the Bureau of                        Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Its mission was to align U.S. national                        security policies with laws, policies, and principles relating to human                        rights and democracy.

## September 3, 2014

Ground was broken for the United States Diplomacy Center, a museum and                        educational center, outside the 21st Street entrance to the Truman Building.

## September 30, 2014

The General Services Administration awarded a $77 million contract for the                        bulk of the extensive interior renovations and upgrades planned for the                        Department’s Harry S. Truman Building.

## November 12, 2014

The Office of Public Liaison in the Bureau of Public Affairs became the                        Office of Public Engagement. The office of the Special Representative for                        Global Intergovernmental Affairs became the Office of Intergovernmental                        Affairs.

## January 20, 2015

The Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance was subdivided into                        six Offices and the Nuclear Risk Reduction Center. The Offices were:                        Chemical and Biological Weapons; Euro-Atlantic Security Affairs; Emerging                        Security Challenges; Multilateral and Nuclear Affairs; Strategic Stability                        and Deterrence; and Verification, Planning, and Outreach.

## January 22, 2015

The Office of Global Health Diplomacy was merged with the Office of the                        Global AIDS Coordinator, to form a new Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator                        and Health Diplomacy. Ambassador-at-Large Deborah L. Birx, Global AIDS Coordinator since April 3, 2014,                        assumed charge of the new office.

## February 18, 2015

Following the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, the Bureau                        of Counterterrorism was renamed the Bureau of Counterterrorism and                        Countering Violent Extremism. The new bureau included a new Office of                        Countering Violent Extremism.

## February 19, 2015

The Office of Computer Security in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security was                        renamed the Office of Cybersecurity.

## May 5, 2015

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs changed the names of four of                        its offices: The Office of Global Systems became the Office of Specialized                        and Technical Agencies. The Office of Human Security became the Office of                        Economic and Development Affairs. The Office of Public Affairs and Outreach                        became the Office of Public Affairs, Planning, and Coordination. The Office                        of Policy and Regional and Functional Organizations became the Office of                        Regional Policy and Coordination.

## August 14, 2015

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs established a new Deputy                        Assistant Secretary for Policy. The new position was to oversee the Offices                        of Policy and Evaluation, Alumni Affairs, and Cultural Heritage, as well as                        Public and Private Partnerships, the Collaboratory, and the Interagency                        Working Group.

## September 8, 2015

The office of Transparency Coordinator was created to improve the                        preservation of Department of State records to speed responses to Freedom of                        Information Act requests and requests from members of Congress. Former                        Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Janice Jacobs assumed charge.

## December 4, 2015

The Office of Medical Services became the Bureau of Medical Services.

## January 12, 2016

The Bureau of Intelligence and Research subdivided its Office of Analysis for                        Near East and South Asia into the Offices of Analysis for South Asia and the                        Office of Analysis for Near East Affairs.

Assistant Secretary John Kirby announced a reorganization of the Bureau of Public                        Affairs. A Deputy Spokesperson would oversee two Directorates: a Director                        for Press Operations, and a Managing Director for International Media. The                        Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary would oversee two offices headed by                        Deputy Assistant Secretaries: Outreach, and Digital Strategy; as well as an                        Office of Strategic Planning.

## March 3, 2016

The Office of the Legal Adviser and the Bureau of Congressional Affairs                        established a joint executive office. The new office contained a Management                        Resources Division, in charge of human resources, budget and finance, and                        strategic planning; and a Management Services Division, in charge of                        administrative services, information technology, and records management.

## May 3, 2016

Under Secretary for Management Patrick F. Kennedy announced the establishment of the Foreign                        Service Family Reserve Corps, which was intended to provide organization and                        structure to the employment of family members of Foreign Service personnel                        serving at overseas posts. Family members would be eligible to enroll                        beginning June 1, with the enrollment process continuing over a period of 20                        to 24 months.

## October 1, 2016

The Department of State introduced Service Passports for issuance to                        third-party contractors providing support to U.S. government activities                        overseas. These would have a gray cover.

## March 13, 2017

President Donald J. Trump signed E.O. 13781 (“Comprehensive Plan for                        Reorganizing the Executive Branch”), which required the head of each federal                        agency to submit reorganization plans “to improve the efficiency,                        effectiveness, and accountability of that agency” to the Director of OMB                        within 180 days. The E.O. also mandated the Director of OMB to draw from                        each agency’s plan and public comments to prepare a comprehensive                        reorganization plan to submit to the president.

## May 1, 2017

Secretary Rex Tillerson sent an email to all employees in which he                        announced the commencement of an online listening survey as the first phase                        of his Department redesign effort.

## July 19, 2017

Deputy Secretary John Sullivan was appointed to chair a steering committee                        composed of foreign and civil service leaders from both State and USAID to                        explore recommendations for the ongoing Department redesign effort. The                        steering committee formed working groups in five different areas: Foreign                        Assistance, Overseas Alignment and Approach, Human Capital Planning,                        Management Support, and IT Platform Planning.

## September 13, 2017

Secretary Tillerson announced the submission of the Department of State’s                        reorganization plan to the Director of OMB in fulfillment of E.O. 13781,                        dated March 13, 2017.

## December 12, 2017

At a town hall meeting of Department staff, Secretary Tillerson announced the implementation of several Department                        redesign recommendations, including expanded employment opportunities for                        Eligible Family Members (EFMs) and an end to the hiring freeze for EFMs in                        2018. (17 State 126292) Tillerson also approved resumption of Civil Service                        lateral reassignments within the Department and resumption of internal Civil                        Service competitive promotions, both beginning January 7, 2018.

## February 13, 2018

Secretary Tillerson announced the transition of the ongoing Department                        redesign effort into the Impact Initiative. The Impact Initiative, he said,                        “is the implementation of plans generated during the 2017 Redesign to                        enhance our ability to carry out America’s foreign policy and strengthen our                        leadership training and development.” The Impact Initiative consisted of two                        broad components: The first, Modernization, consisted of 16 projects related                        to information technology and human resources, policy processes and the                        Department’s global resource footprint, and operational efficiencies. The                        second component, Leadership, consisted of a comprehensive review of                        policies designed to strengthen leadership development under the direction                        of Julieta Valls Noyes, Acting Deputy Director of the Foreign                        Service Institute. Ambassador Daniel Smith, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Intelligence                        and Research, was named the overall leader of the Impact Initiative.

## March 13, 2018

The Department launched the Mercury Abatement Hub, an intranet website that                        provided curated resources and guidance for posts to use in engaging on                        mercury issues.

## May 1, 2018

Secretary of State Michael Pompeo reauthorized U.S. missions abroad to hire Eligible                        Family Members (EFMs) and other overseas employees, to be done within the                        constraints of funding resource levels as provided in the Department’s                        appropriations.

## May 7, 2018

IRM’s Email Division migrated Department email mailboxes from Exchange                        On-Premises to O365 Exchange Online, to provide more storage space at lower                        cost.

## May 15, 2018

Secretary Pompeo lifted the Department’s hiring freeze on Foreign Service                        and Civil Service personnel, authorizing hiring to currently funded                        levels.

## July 25, 2018

The Department of State's Cloud Strategy was approved. The strategy provided                        enterprise-level direction regarding cloud services, addressed the issue of                        bureau-focused cloud adoption, and drove the Department toward a shared                        services model to deliver cloud solutions more cost-effectively. The                        Department’s cloud strategy aligned with the President’s IT Modernization                        Plan, FY 2017 – 2019 Department of State IT Strategic Plan, and the Federal                        Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA), while fulfilling                        various government-wide mandates.

## October 25, 2018

The Bureau of Human Resources (HR) announced that Ambassador Robert T. Yamate had been appointed Senior Advisor and Care                        Coordinator for employees affected by the recent unexplained health                        incidents in Cuba and China. The creation of the Care Coordinator position                        implemented a recommendation from the Cuba Accountability Review Board                        report.

## April 11, 2019

A Department Notice announced that the Columbia Plaza (SA-1) and Harry S.                        Truman (HST) ID Units, where government employees and contractors receive                        identification badges, were being consolidated and relocated to SA-9.

## April 26, 2019

Secretary of State Michael Pompeo unveiled a Professional Ethos for the Department                        of State, drafted by Ambassador Daniel Smith, Director of the Foreign Service Institute, and                        senior officers from the Foreign Service and Civil Service (both current and                        former). The ethos was drafted to promote professional qualities and                        teamwork among Civil Service, Foreign Service, contractors, locally employed                        staff and non-career employees. The ethos read: “I am a champion of American                        diplomacy. My colleagues and I proudly serve the United States and the                        American people at the Department of State, America's first executive                        department. We support and defend the Constitution of the United States. We                        protect the American people and promote their interests and values around                        the world by leading our nation's foreign policy. As a member of this team,                        I serve with unfailing professionalism in both my demeanor and my actions,                        even in the face of adversity. I act with uncompromising personal and                        professional integrity. I take ownership of and responsibility for my                        actions and decisions. And I show unstinting respect in word and deed for my                        colleagues and all who serve alongside me. Together, we are the United                        States Department of State.”

## May 28, 2019

The Bureau of Public Affairs and the Bureau of International Information                        Programs merged into the Bureau of Global Public Affairs. Administration of                        the United States Diplomacy Center moved from the Bureau of Public Affairs                        to the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Office of                        Public Diplomacy Policy, Planning and Resources. Administration of the                        Office of the Historian moved from the Bureau of Public Affairs to the                        Foreign Service Institute. The Office of American Spaces moved to the Bureau                        of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

## June 2019

The Director General of the Foreign Service, Carol Z. Perez, established a Parental Leave Working Group to                        explore actions the Department could take under existing authorities,                        benchmark other agencies’ policies, and track relevant legislation in an                        effort to better support the workforce.

## July 31, 2019

The Foreign Service Institute announced the launch of the One Team course                        (PN101), as part of the Department’s efforts to advance the principles and                        values in the Professional Ethos Statement introduced by Secretary Pompeo on April 26, 2019. The pilot class ran from August 26-29,                        2019. One Team anticipated a fundamental shift in orientation training by                        combining newly-hired Civil Service and Foreign Service employees, Limited                        Non-Career appointees (LNAs), and political appointees in a shared setting                        early in their Department tenure. It was intended to supplement, rather than                        supplant, the existing orientation courses.

## August 6, 2019

The Office of Nordic and Baltic Affairs (EUR/NB) was renamed the Office of                        Nordic, Baltic, and Arctic Security Affairs (EUR/NBA).

## November 5, 2019

The United States Diplomacy Center was renamed the National Museum of                        American Diplomacy.

## December 4, 2019

The Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs consolidated its Office of Public                        Diplomacy (EUR/PD) and its Office of Press and Policy Outreach (EUR/PRESS)                        to establish an Office of Press and Public Diplomacy (EUR/PPD).

## December 18, 2019

Under Secretary for Management Brian Bulatao announced the launch of the Center for Analytics                        (CfA), a new directorate within the Office of Management Policy,                        Rightsizing, and Innovation (M/PRI), headed by the Department’s first Chief                        Data Officer. CfA held a formal launch event, Data for Diplomacy 2020, on                        January 16, 2020.

## December 20, 2019

President Donald J. Trump signed the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization                        Act into law, which included the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act. Under this                        legislation, federal government employees received 12 weeks of paid leave                        following the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child. The Federal                        Employee Paid Leave Act took effect on October 1, 2020.

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## Department History

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