Under Secretary for Political Affairs

The Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Marc Grossman, is the Department's crisis manager and  is responsible for integrating political, economic, global, and security issues into the United States' bilateral relationships.  There are six geographically defined bureaus and one functional bureau that report to the Under Secretary -- bureaus for Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, the Near East, South Asia, and the Western Hemisphere.  The geographic bureaus coordinate the conduct of bilateral U.S. foreign relations, and the Bureau of International Organization Affairs engages in multilateral diplomacy.

The Assistant Secretaries of the geographic bureaus and office advise the Under Secretary and guide the operation of the U.S. diplomatic missions within their regional jurisdiction. They are assisted by Deputy Assistant Secretaries, office directors, post management officers, and country desk officers. These officials work closely with U.S. embassies and consulates overseas and with foreign embassies in Washington, DC. 

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs (IO) develops and implements the policies of the U.S. Government within the United Nations and its affiliated agencies, as well as within certain other international organizations.  The IO Bureau engages in what is known as multilateral diplomacy to promote and defend the many overlapping interests of the American people.  The IO Bureau also promotes effective and efficient management within international organizations.