Julianne Shinnick

Serves as the official designated to represent the Department to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and maintains central control on all GAO interactions with the Department.  There are 70-90 GAO audits involving the Department at any given time. Managing this critical interagency relationship requires the highest degree of communication abilities, policy awareness, interpersonal and negotiating skills as well as knowledge of department organizations and programs and their equities. Received two Superior Honor Awards, two Meritorious Honor Awards, and a Quality Performance Award.

Managed one of the most active legislative portfolios in the Department, the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), with a FY 2004 budget of nearly $1 billion to carry out counter-drug, law enforcement, and counter-terrorism programs around the world.  INL was under constant scrutiny from Congress given the level of funding and high-profile programs in Colombia, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Received a Superior Honor Award in April 2001 for building public support for U.S. government initiatives against drug trafficking and other international crimes. Received a Superior Honor Award in October 1998 for maintaining productive relations with the national and regional U.S. media. Figured in a Group Meritorious Honor Award in September 1998 for the successful handling of over a hundred interviews following the terrorist attacks on our Embassies in Africa. Received a Superior Honor Award in July 1996 for sustained, distinguished service on the Department’s front line with the world’s press. Traveled with the Secretary of State to the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Detailed to the Presidential Transition team, November 1992 to March 1993.

Served as a staff assistant in the Department’s 24-hour Operations Center, responsible for coordinating the Department’s activities with other U.S. government agencies and our Embassies abroad. Figured in a group Meritorious Honor Award in March 1992 for extraordinary support to the Secretary of State during his nine-day trip to the Republics of the former Soviet Union. Detailed to two U.S. delegations:  the 1991 Middle East Peace Conference in Madrid and the 1992 CSCE Meeting in Helsinki.

Served as a staff assistant during the summer and Christmas holidays in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and Spokesperson.

Middle Eastern Studies Minor

Completed coursework on the development of public relations strategies and implementation of public relations programs, publicity and fundraising for special events, and integrating the Internet to achieve the Department’s outreach goals.