Marilynne Bonner

Responsible for providing the logistics management platform for the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council from April 2015 to May 2017. On-going logistics for Community of Democracies Meeting, Major Economies meeting and Global Health & Security meeting in Kampala, Uganda.

Logistics liaison for the Bureau of African Affairs, African Summit Policy Liaison Office, and coordination with the Major Events Conference and Summit Office at the Department of State.

Directed VIP visits, conferences, and events, including budget and funding, hotel-block bookings, contract negotiations, customer relations, accreditation, registration, meeting room setup, interpretation services, receptions, sponsorship, transportation, budget close-outs, and other related conference logistics. Led logistics management for the U.S. delegation at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP-15) in Copenhagen in 2009. This was the largest Executive and Congressional Delegation to an international conference, consisting of the President, Secretary of State, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of the Interior, EPA Administrator, and a Congressional delegation of 88 led by the Speaker of the House. Creatively resolved a VIP accreditation issue that could have caused a diplomatic incident. Among other commendations and awards for the success of the logistics at this conference, received a personal note from the Speaker for flexibility and professionalism. Logistics lead for 18 international conferences, that included six summits.The Summits included the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leader’s Summit in Bali, Indonesia, in 2013; the United Nations Climate Change Conferences in Poland 2009, Copenhagen 2010, Mexico 2011, and South Africa 2012; and the Rio+20 Summit in 2012. Also worked in various capacities on six domestic conferences during the U.S. hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Honolulu during 2011 and the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh in 2009. Played a leadership role in the UN Commission on Science and Technology Development Intercessional in Washington, D.C., in 2013. This featured sponsored receptions at the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Managed a staff of 60 working in the day-to-day operations for a warehouse, travel, customs and shipping, motor pool, and procurement units under dangerous conditions. Managed and resolved problems with the customs clearance of 28,000 Department of Defense containers loaded with vital supplies for our forces in Afghanistan. Initiated and successfully showed that Karachi personnel were placed at financial disadvantage by only being allowed to use R&R and Regional Rest Breaks, in contrast with similar posts, which were authorized Family Visitation Travel. The change allowed current and future personnel to able to make use of this money-saving and morale-boosting program.

Managed a staff of 120 working in the day-to-day operations for a busy warehouse, travel, customs and shipping, and motor pool. Worked on consolidation of the Embassy and USAID services in Nairobi, this was commended as one of the most successful models for consolidation by the Joint Management Council Directorate.

Managed day-to-day operations of the Ambassador’s Executive Office in the Office of Iraq Reconstruction, Washington, D.C., and U.S. Embassies in Austria, South Africa, the Bahamas, and Nepal.

Worked in hotel management in a number of hotels in Washington, D.C., and overseas. Was on the opening team of the Willard InterContinental and worked at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City. Managed a portfolio of Trade Associations’ yearly conventions at Transeair Travel, Inc., Washington, D.C., and managed a portfolio of incoming tours for African Travel Supervisors, Johannesburg, South Africa.