Public Liaison

The Office of Public Liaison creates and coordinates opportunities for dialogue between the Administration and the American public to improve public awareness of, and involvement in the Department and its work.

This is the central point of coordination for speaking engagements, briefings, and conference programs in Washington, DC and around the country. If you are interested in any of the following services, contact information is listed on the right.

Washington Programs:

• Coordinates briefings, seminars, and conferences with experts in the Department and Washington area
• arranges special-issue briefings, off-the-record sessions, and multi-topic events for groups and organizations;
• sponsors fora in response to important global developments and major U.S. policy initiatives;
• holds national conferences in the Department -- one-day events arranged at the Department's initiative or sponsored by outside organizations.

Public Communication:

• interacts with the general public to ensure Department officials hear the public's voice.
• answers phone inquiries
• registers the public's comments;
• responds to e-mail messages and hard copy mail; and
• manages requests for the Secretary's official photograph.

Regional Programs:

• manages program outside the Washington area, including liaison with civic and foreign policy groups.
• organizes town meetings with a variety of local co-sponsoring
  organizations across the United States featuring senior Department officials and flexible full-or half-day agendas that encourage the free exchange of information and opinions with the American public;
• sends U.S. State Department speakers to address organizations around the country, to participate in local media interviews, meet with community leaders and visit academic institutions.

Nongovernmental Organizations Liaison Unit (NGO):

• collaborates with a wide variety of nongovernmental organizations to offer them an opportunity to exchange views with Department officials.
• arranges monthly and special-issue briefings for Washington area NGO representatives;
• sponsors the National Foreign Policy Conference for Leaders of Nongovernmental Organizations for representatives from around the country;
• coordinates digital video conferences and satellite broadcasts cosponsored by NGOs;
• facilitates NGO leadership international travel;
• exhibits and provides Department speakers at NGO conferences and meetings;
• distributes foreign policy speeches, testimony, and fact sheets.