Barbara A. Leaf
Advisor, Foreign and National Security Affairs
ALEXANDRIA,VA
Summary
Seasoned foreign policy leader, with extensive experience promoting U.S. business and investment across the Middle East and North Africa.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Aff
U.S. Department of State
05.2022 - Current
- Responsible for formulating U.S. policies and managing bilateral relationships for 18 countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
- Oversees 21 U.S. diplomatic posts, and a bureau comprising some 450 personnel.
- Oversees a foreign assistance budget of over $7.5 billion in economic support, foreign military financing, rule of law, human rights and law enforcement programming.
- Develops and defends the President's budget for the region in annual hearings before the Senate and House of Representatives; appears before the Congress to defend the Administration's regional policies.
- Directs diplomatic engagement with MENA governments on conflict resolution, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, climate, energy stability, rule of law, economic and financial transparency, good governance.
Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Middle East and North Africa Affairs
National Security Council
01.2021 - 05.2022
- Provided interagency policy coordination and oversight on all issues related to the Middle East and North Africa.
- Responsible for briefing the President, Vice President and National Security Advisor on key issues of the Middle East and North Africa.
- Prepared and supported high-level U.S. official visits to the region, and participated in the President's reception of senior government officials from the Middle East and North Africa.
Ruth and Sid Lapidus Fellow and Director of the Beth and David Geduld Program on Arab Politics
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
05.2018 - 01.2021
- Wrote and spoke extensively on U.S. national security interests in the Middle East. Directed the analytical work of Senior Fellows and Research Assistants in the Arab Politics Program, covering economic and defense policies, counter-terrorism, internal politics, regional conflicts.
- Invited to provide expert testimony before Congressional Committees
- Myriad press engagements, including BBC, CNN, Intelligence Matters Podcast
U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates
U.S. Department of State
12.2014 - 03.2018
- Led one of the largest U.S. diplomatic missions in the region, comprising U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi and Consulate General Dubai, with a staff of some 950 personnel representing over a dozen U.S. federal agencies.
- Led diplomatic coordination on regional conflicts, counter-terrorism, mitigation of humanitarian crises.
- Promoted US-UAE policy and commercial cooperation on space, climate, tech, fossil and nuclear/green energy, aeronautics, security and defense. Champion for community of some 1500 resident US firms. Advocated on behalf of US businesses and mutual foreign direct investment.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (for the Arabian Peninsula)
U.S. Department of State
04.2012 - 09.2013
- Responsibile for all U.S. policies, personnel and budgets for the six embassies and three consulates general of the GCC countries of the Persian Gulf.
- Promoted U.S. business and mutual investment, including in tech, climate, energy and defense industries across the Gulf.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (for Iraq)
U.S. Department of State
07.2011 - 04.2013
- Responsible for all policies, personnel and budgets for U.S. Embassy Baghdad and Consulate General Erbil, the largest diplomatic platform in the region.
- Advocated for US business in aerospace, energy, climate, infrastructure, transport, agriculture and defense sectors.
- Promoted close cooperation on counter-terrorism, energy stability, economic and financial transparency, rule of law and human rights.
Team Leader, U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team
U.S. Department of State
07.2010 - 06.2011
- Senior U.S. diplomat for southern Iraq, responsible for leading a U.S. interagency team of 100 diplomatic staff and subject matter experts.
- Oversaw US programs to promote rule of law, human rights, economic development, good governance and cooperation on counter-terrorism.
- Cooperated closely with US Commanding General for the 9 southern provinces of Iraq to enhance security and counter-terrorism cooperation with the Iraqi military.
Political Minister Counselor
U.S. Embassy Rome
09.2008 - 06.2010
- Directed the Political Section of U.S. Embassy Rome, responsible for 12 Foreign Service staff reporting on national security-relevant issues. Acting Deputy Chief of Mission for five months in 2009.
Director, Office of Iranian Affairs
U.S. Department of State
07.2006 - 05.2008
- First Director of the Office of Iranian Affairs, established in 2006 to oversee policy development on all matters related to Iran.
- Led an office of 10 Foreign Service officers and an overseas network of U.S. diplomatic staff posted overseas across the Caucuses, Middle East and Europe reporting on Iran and engaging with Iranian diaspora.
- Oversaw the first educational/cultural exchange program to bring Iranians to the US since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
Education
Master of Arts - Foreign Affairs
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VABachelor of Arts - Government
College of William And Mary
Williamsburg, VASkills
- Fluent in French
- Strong comprehension, moderate speaking level in Arabic
- Conversational Italian
- Some Serbo-Croatian, German
Timeline
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Aff
U.S. Department of State
05.2022 - Current
Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Middle East and North Africa Affairs
National Security Council
01.2021 - 05.2022
Ruth and Sid Lapidus Fellow and Director of the Beth and David Geduld Program on Arab Politics
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
05.2018 - 01.2021
U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates
U.S. Department of State
12.2014 - 03.2018
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (for the Arabian Peninsula)
U.S. Department of State
04.2012 - 09.2013
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (for Iraq)
U.S. Department of State
07.2011 - 04.2013
Team Leader, U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team
U.S. Department of State
07.2010 - 06.2011
Political Minister Counselor
U.S. Embassy Rome
09.2008 - 06.2010
Director, Office of Iranian Affairs
U.S. Department of State
07.2006 - 05.2008
Master of Arts - Foreign Affairs
University of Virginia
Bachelor of Arts - Government
College of William And Mary
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