KIER JOY
Washington,DC
Summary
Strategic leader and policy advisor with 10 years of experience driving cross-functional initiatives, managing complex international operations, and advising senior executives on geopolitical, operational, and enterprise risks. Recognized for synthesizing intelligence, policy, and economic data into actionable insights that strengthen governance, enhance organizational agility, and inform decision-making.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy Chief of Staff
U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA)
01.2025 - Current
- Directed enterprise-wide coordination across 28 U.S. embassies, 21 consulates, and 15 domestic offices, aligning strategic priorities, optimizing workflows, and delivering executive dashboards informing top-level decisions.
- Synthesized intelligence, policy, and operational data to evaluate transnational risk, shape response frameworks, and strengthen organizational agility.
- Managed crisis operations, orchestrating real-time decision-making processes and institutionalizing risk governance mechanisms that reduced vulnerabilities.
- Served as trusted advisor and proxy to senior leadership, preparing briefings and ensuring strategic alignment across global stakeholders.
Deputy Spokesperson
U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA)
06.2025 - 09.2025
- Led strategic communications and stakeholder engagement across Latin America, aligning messaging across teams to support regional policy objectives and executive priorities.
- Synthesized complex political and economic developments into actionable insights and concise briefings for senior officials.
- Developed and delivered executive messaging, managing cross-functional coordination to strengthen policy coherence and brand trust across foreign audiences.
Public Affairs and Consular Officer
U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong
11.2022 - 01.2025
- Designed and implemented data-driven risk assessment frameworks, training teams to identify and mitigate high-risk visa cases and improve process integrity across multiple posts.
- Developed strategic communications and engagement plans for major bilateral events, ensuring message discipline and policy alignment with host-government and U.S. stakeholders.
- Built partnerships and secured six-figure funding to manage multi-stakeholder initiatives and drive measurable outcomes in public diplomacy and private-sector collaboration.
Public Affairs and Consular Officer
U.S. Consulate General Porto Alegre
06.2019 - 11.2022
- Strengthened organizational reputation and leadership visibility through targeted media strategies, speechwriting, and high-profile public engagements.
- Led investigations and policy coordination with multi-agency partners to mitigate visa fraud, integrating risk intelligence into public messaging campaigns.
- Implemented performance and monitoring systems to assess communications impact and stakeholder reach.
Risks and Policy Consultant
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
09.2018 - 05.2019
- Conducted geopolitical and emerging-technology risk assessments, producing analytical reports that shaped U.S. policy positions at the U.N.
- Engaged cross-sector partners, including corporations and NGOs, to develop data-driven insights informing high-level decision-making.
- Synthesized research across economic, social, and security domains to identify systemic risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
Human Rights Reporting Officer
U.S. Embassy Mexico City
04.2018 - 09.2018
- Led quantitative and qualitative assessments of human rights conditions, advising senior officials and contributing to global reporting frameworks.
- Partnered with civil society and government stakeholders to enhance information flows and support rapid response to emerging risks.
Policy Fellow
U.S. House of Representatives – Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
04.2017 - 09.2017
- Advised on security, democracy-building, and economic policy, drafting briefs and recommendations for subcommittee members.
- Organized Congressional briefings on Latin American issues with ambassadors, civil society leaders, and academics.
- Evaluated interagency compliance with Congressionally mandated reporting, identifying process gaps and recommending improvements.
Research Director
Spencer Frye Legislative Research Fellowship
09.2015 - 05.2017
- Directed a 20-person research team to analyze legislative initiatives and establish research standards and quality-assurance protocols.
- Built relationships with elected officials and staff to support information gathering and stakeholder alignment.
- Delivered policy analysis and presentations to support decision-making and public communications.
Education
Master of Public Administration - International Affairs
Columbia University
05.2019
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science; International Affairs, Summa Cum Laude
University of Georgia
05.2017
Skills
- Risk Assessment and Crisis Management
- Strategic Planning and Execution
- Policy Analysis and Data Synthesis
- Cross-Functional Leadership and Organizational Agility
- Executive Communications and Principal Support
- Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Communication
- Operational Excellence and Process Optimization
- Compliance
LANGUAGES
English – Native
Native or Bilingual
Portuguese – Fluent
Native or Bilingual
Spanish – Proficient
Full Professional
Projects
Chinese Migration Patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa (2025)
Analyzed Chinese migration and visa misuse, linking local labor markets, governance, and economic pressures to migration risk indicators.
Executive Event Leadership: Independence Day Receptions (2023)
Directed multi-agency diplomatic events, coordinating stakeholders, logistics, and strategic messaging under complex operational constraints.
Youth Mobility Validation Study (2022)
Assessed youth visa compliance, connecting unemployment and economic pressures to migration patterns and structural risk factors.
Visa Validation Study: Haiti, Venezuela & Cuba in Brazil (2021)
Evaluated visa use and irregular migration, linking labor-market stress, inflation, and economic crises to country-level migration risk.
Human Rights & Political Risk Analysis: Mexico (2018)
Investigated governance and human rights conditions, producing political risk analysis aligned with country-risk assessment frameworks.
AWARDS
Superior Honor Award, U.S. Department of State (2023), Meritorious Honor Award, U.S. Department of State (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Timeline
Deputy Spokesperson
U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA)
06.2025 - 09.2025
Deputy Chief of Staff
U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA)
01.2025 - Current
Public Affairs and Consular Officer
U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong
11.2022 - 01.2025
Public Affairs and Consular Officer
U.S. Consulate General Porto Alegre
06.2019 - 11.2022
Risks and Policy Consultant
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
09.2018 - 05.2019
Human Rights Reporting Officer
U.S. Embassy Mexico City
04.2018 - 09.2018
Policy Fellow
U.S. House of Representatives – Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
04.2017 - 09.2017
Research Director
Spencer Frye Legislative Research Fellowship
09.2015 - 05.2017
Master of Public Administration - International Affairs
Columbia University
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science; International Affairs, Summa Cum Laude
University of Georgia