Elizabeth Miller
Dover
Summary
Have received Qualitative Step Increase (QSI), Superior Honor and Meritorious Honor Awards.
Briefed and prepared all levels of Department Leadership from the Secretary to the desk level.
Briefed and prepared senior principals from other agencies for Hill engagements
Handled the nominations of nominees to all Middle East countries totaling 48 confirmed Ambassadors as well as additional nominees.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Advisor
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Legislative Affairs
12.2023 - Current
- Develops and advises on strategy, convenes subject experts from within the Department to advise Bureau Leadership and focuses on the Department’s legislative agenda, the Administration’s national security priorities, training for incoming and onboarding employees on legislative tradecraft, as well as other special assignments concerning management of the Department’s legislative program.
- Serves as the Bureau’s lead on the Bureau Resource Request (BRR). Responsible for advising both the Bureau’s resource and personnel requirements ensuring that the Legislative Affairs Bureau, which is at the forefront of advocating for the Administration’s national security priorities, can succeed. Successful performance of these assignments is predicated on a thorough knowledge and understanding of policy, Administration resource and strategic planning standard operating procedures, interrelationships between programs and key functions and Congressional budget practice.
- Prepares briefing materials to equip the Bureau Leadership and other senior management of the Department of State for substantive interactions on resource requests, training programs and compliance, strategic plans, and other assigned reporting with other senior Department officials. Prepares strategies, action plans, and reports to respond to data calls, prepare and edit Bureau reports, and manage input to Department-wide analytical reports and studies.
- Reviews and edits products drafted by others – including training plans, responses to taskers from other departments with a legislative or training focus, and legally mandated congressional reports and official correspondence to Members of Congress – to ensure that critical issues are framed correctly, taking into consideration any relevant sensitivities and Administration priorities.
Senior Congressional Advisor
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Legislative Affairs
05.2012 - 12.2023
- Responsible for a portfolio covering the Middle East, all of the Administration’s counter-ISIS efforts, including AUMF and the Multinational Force Observers and various Middle East regional accounts, which include security assistance accounts and the Middle East Partnership Initiative which are widely recognized for generating high-profile, sensitive, multi-faceted and particularly complex often crossing the activities and competing interests of several Department bureaus simultaneously.
- Coordinate and facilitate effective communication between the senior diplomatic professionals of the Department and Members of Congress, their personal staffs and the staffs of Department oversight committees and subcommittees.
- Provide timely, appropriate analysis of concerns raised by Members of Congress or his/her staff. As required, brief Members of Congress and their staff members in response to specific questions, as well on issues of general interest.
- Develop and execute strategic and tactical approaches to encourage the implementation of proposed legislative initiatives that further the Department’s foreign policy goals and objectives; or, conversely, to discourage those proposed initiatives that might become detrimental to the interests of the Department and the Administration.
- Responsible for preparing Department leadership for hearings and briefings and ensuring that senior representatives are prepared.
Acting Chief of Staff
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Legislative Affairs
04.2021 - 12.2023
- Provides advice and assistance on a range of complex, cross-cutting issues, and formulates recommendations on congressional matters for Department principals and the inter-agency. Works closely with the Assistant Secretary in directing the Bureau's liaison activities with the myriad Congressional committees, including advising the Bureau's senior management team on the status of legislation hearings, reports, and meetings with Members of Congress and their staffs on issues.
- Works closely within the Bureau to ensure that the Bureau is in compliance with all Congressional reporting requirements. Represents the Bureau of Legislative Affairs in committee, subcommittee and/or group meetings, ensuring that information is provided that completely addresses Congressional requests which may involve legislation sponsored by the Department or in which the Department has a particular interest.
- Participates in Bureau program planning and, at the direction of the Assistant Secretary, represents the Bureau at policy meetings, particularly those which involve pending legislation. Provides senior staff with informal comments and advice on any activity related to such legislation, and recommends appropriate action to be taken.
Special Congressional Affairs Advisor
U.S. Department of State, Office of Iraq Affairs, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
07.2007 - 05.2012
- Assisted in developing agency policies and budgets by offering input informed by working closely with Congress and monitoring Congressional actions.
- Advised senior Administration staff on Congressional strategy and priorities, via issue papers, memorandum and briefing.
- Drafted and edited letters and correspondence, presentations, speeches and Congressional testimony.
- Developed and executed the office’s overall congressional strategy related to Iraq. Promoted the Department’s budget submissions and legislative positions and priorities to Congress and other agencies.
- Managed the flow of correspondence between Congress and the Iraq office and oversaw the congressional hearing process including negotiating witnesses and terms with congressional staff, advising on hearing strategy, preparing witness testimony and coordinating post-hearing follow-up activities.
- After a year and a half in the office, was promoted to Special Advisor with additional responsibilities to help the Director manage office workflow, personnel matters and other policy and budget issues.
Professional Staff
Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment, House Foreign Affairs Committee
01.2007 - 04.2007
- Subject matter expert in issues under the Subcommittee’s jurisdiction and helped set legislative strategies and goals for the year. Advised Committee staff and leadership on legislative and policy matters and initiated Congressional hearings, working closely with U.S. Government officials and leading experts to ensure the hearings were comprehensive and well balanced. Drafted and edited official statements for the record and other Subcommittee correspondence.
- Interacted with foreign officials and the U.S. Government on behalf of the Subcommittee and was designated by the Chairman to represent the Subcommittee on a Congressional staff delegation to Japan to meet with senior Japanese officials and business leaders.
Staff Associate
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, House Committee on International Relations
04.2001 - 01.2007
- Assisted subcommittee Professional Staff and other congressional offices in advising them on subcommittee issues, coordinating hearings, enacting legislation and scheduling briefings.
- Researched subcommittee issues and legislation and prepared briefing materials for committee members and staff as well as edited and assisted in writing all correspondence, memos, speeches, floor statements and hearing materials. Oversaw preparation of official post-hearing transcripts including editing the transcript and working closely with witnesses to complete post-hearing questions and requests for information.
- Drafted and edited Subcommittee news releases and served as media point of contact and liaison with leadership public affairs staff in absence of Committee Press Secretary.
- Appointed to serve as the Committee’s staff representative to the annual meeting in Brussels of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Staff Assistant
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Financial Services
02.2000 - 04.2001
- Oversaw the day-to-day administration of the office and conducted research for Subcommittee Professional Staff on issues such as money laundering, financial privacy and identity theft.
- Critiqued and edited Subcommittee briefing papers and correspondence distributed to Members of Congress and the public. Completed all pre- and post-hearing activities, including arranging witness participation, preparing briefing materials and compiling and editing official hearing transcript.
Intern
United States Senate Commerce Committee
03.1998 - 06.1998
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
1999
Skills
-Legislative Affairs and Congressional relations
-Advancing US national security interests
-Notifying and clearing billions of dollars in arms sales to the Middle East
-Identifying cost savings and bureau efficiencies
Security Clearance
Active Top Secret/SCI
Timeline
Senior Advisor
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Legislative Affairs
12.2023 - Current
Acting Chief of Staff
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Legislative Affairs
04.2021 - 12.2023
Senior Congressional Advisor
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Legislative Affairs
05.2012 - 12.2023
Special Congressional Affairs Advisor
U.S. Department of State, Office of Iraq Affairs, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
07.2007 - 05.2012
Professional Staff
Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment, House Foreign Affairs Committee
01.2007 - 04.2007
Staff Associate
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, House Committee on International Relations
04.2001 - 01.2007
Staff Assistant
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Financial Services
02.2000 - 04.2001
Intern
United States Senate Commerce Committee
03.1998 - 06.1998
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill