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". 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".
President Joe Biden nominated Monica Medina as Assistant Secretary on April 27, 2021. Medina was confirmed by the Senate on September 28, 2021, by a vote of 61–36. 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. Prior to her current employment Ms. Littlejohn 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). 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).
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).
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