The Department of State advises the President and leads the nation in foreign policy issues. The State Department negotiates treaties and agreements with foreign entities, and represents the United States at the United Nations.

Government

U.S. Department of State

Secretary Pompeo swore Stephen E. Biegun in as Deputy Secretary of State on December 21, 2019.

On August 23, 2018, Secretary Pompeo appointed Stephen E. Biegun as the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, responsible for leading U.S. efforts to achieve President Trump’s goal of the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, as agreed to by Chairman Kim Jong Un at the Singapore summit. As Special Representative, on behalf of the Secretary of State he directed all U.S. policy on North Korea, led negotiations, and spearheaded U.S. diplomatic efforts with allies and partners.

Biegun has three decades of experience in government in the Executive and Legislative Branches, as well as in the private sector. Through his extensive career in foreign policy and business, he has excelled in tough negotiating settings. Most recently, Biegun was vice president of International Governmental Relations for Ford Motor Company, where—as a third generation Ford employee—he oversaw all aspects of Ford’s international governmental interactions including throughout the Indo-Pacific Region.

Previously, as national security advisor to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, he provided analysis and strategic planning for the [U.S. Senate](/org/u-s-senate)’s consideration of foreign policy, defense and intelligence matters, and international trade agreements. Prior to that, Biegun worked in the White House from 2001-2003 as Executive Secretary of the National Security Council. He served as a senior staff member to the National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice, and performed the function of chief operating officer for the National Security Council.

Before joining the White House staff, Biegun served for 14 years as a foreign policy advisor to members of both the House of Representatives and the [U.S. Senate](/org/u-s-senate). During this time, he held the position of Chief of Staff of the [U.S. Senate](/org/u-s-senate) Committee on Foreign Relations from 1999-2000. In addition, he served as a senior staff member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs for 6 years.

From 1992 to 1994, Biegun served in Moscow, Russia, as the Resident Director in the Russian Federation for the [International Republican Institute](/org/international-republican-institute), a democracy-building organization established under the National Endowment for Democracy.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1963, Biegun graduated from the University of Michigan where he studied Political Science and Russian Language. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has served on the boards of the National Bureau of Asian Research, the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, the U.S.-Russia Foundation for Economic Development and the Rule of Law, and Freedom House.

Stephen Biegun

Megan Sheils

T. Ulrich Brechbuhl currently serves as the Counselor of the Department. In this capacity, he provides strategic guidance to the Secretary on foreign policy, undertakes efforts to enhance U.S. diplomacy and public outreach, and conducts special diplomatic assignments as directed by the Secretary. On March 5, 2020, Counselor Brechbuhl was additionally delegated the authorities and functions of the Office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.

Prior to joining the Department, Mr. Brechbuhl was president of Appenzeller Point, LLC, a family investing and consulting business. He also served as the executive chairman of [Avadyne Health](/org/avadyne-health-inc) and on the board of five other healthcare and financial services businesses.

Mr. Brechbuhl graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1986 and served as a cavalry officer with the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment patrolling the Iron Curtain before its fall. He also served with the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry in the U.S. Army’s First Calvary Division during the Persian Gulf War.

After leaving active duty, Mr. Brechbuhl graduated from [Harvard Business School](/org/harvard-business-school), receiving his Master of Business Administration in 1994. Since then he worked with Bain and Company, Inc., and has served as the CFO and CEO of multiple companies, both private equity owned and publicly traded.

Born in Switzerland, Mr. Brechbuhl grew up in Garden City, New York, and speaks French, German, and Swiss-German.

T. Ulrich Brechbuhl

Kristyn Nicole Hoy

Lisa Kenna is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service of the United States. She is currently the Executive Secretary in the Office of the Secretary, a position she has held since June 2017. Previously, she served as the Executive Assistant to the Secretary. She has served overseas in Amman, Cairo, and Peshawar. Domestically, she has worked in the Office of the Secretary, the National Security Council, and at the Department of Defense.

Prior to joining the Foreign Service, she worked as a lawyer in New Haven, Connecticut.

Lisa holds a BA from [Middlebury College](/org/middlebury-college) and a J.D. from the [University of Connecticut](/org/university-of-connecticut). She speaks Arabic, Persian, and Urdu.

Lisa D. Kenna

Antony J. Blinken was sworn in as the 71st U.S. Secretary of State on January 26, 2021.

The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President's chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President's foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service, and [U.S. Agency for International Development](/org/u-s-agency-for-international-development).

U.S. Department of State

About

Photos

Values

Insider experiences

Org chart

Teams

Jobs

Wires

Similar organizations