Seth Yeager
Details
- Provided strategic guidance on multi-million dollar fund to increase cybersecurity capacity in partner countries
- Promoted greater cooperation with European partners, drawing them to call out and attribute malicious cyber acts and promote responsible state behavior in cyberspace, a key pillar of the 2018 National Cyber Strategy
International Policy Issues
- Led policy discussions with the European Parliament, guiding U.S. engagement with the legislature before and after the key 2019 European parliamentary elections
- Worked closely with Counterterrorism Bureau and DOD to enhance counterterrorism cooperation with European partners and allies
Team Management
- Selected to serve as Acting Deputy Director on multiple occasions, including during extended government shutdown in early 2019, as part of leadership team managing an office of 15 foreign and civil service officers
2018 : Present
U.S. Department of State
Cybersecurity Coordinator and EU Political Officer
Influencing U.S. and Foreign Policymakers
- Coordinated interagency policy positions on security, energy, and human rights for a strategically important country in the South Caucasus
Interagency Collaboration & Public Affairs
- Drove consensus with Department of Defense, National Security Council, and Political-Military Bureau on security assistance strategy for Azerbaijan
- Supported human rights activists and political prisoners, collaborating with colleagues in Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) and Public Affairs
Leadership
- Acknowledged as regional expert on only country that borders both Iran and Russia; regional expert on team that developed strategy for Southern Gas Corridor (went online in 2018)
- Selected to serve several times as Acting Deputy Director, supporting other desk officers and Office Director
2016 : 2018
U.S. Department of State
Azerbaijan Desk Officer
Leadership & Team Management
- Selected to manage non-immigrant (NIV) and immigrant visa (IV) units. Supervised 7 local staff to meet 250+ customer needs per day
- Served as section expert on complicated visa issues
- Advised embassy’s executive team and applicants on implementation of the Visa Waiver Program
Stakeholder Communications & Presentations
- Coordinated with political-economic section on reporting, including validation studies of Visa Waiver Program applicants, and the increasing number of third-country national visa applicants
- Performed outreach to U.S. citizens and Chileans on embassy services, and presented to hundreds of prospective applicants regarding opportunities to travel, work, and study in the United States
- Enhanced communications with U.S. citizens and improved coordination with local authorities on crisis preparedness
- Adjudicated NIV and IV cases, including complex employment, petition-based, and investor visas
2014 : 2016
U.S. Department of State
Visa Chief
2011 : 2013
U.S. Department of State
Political Officer
2011 : 2011
U.S. Department of State
Political Officer
About
Award-winning Foreign Service Officer (diplomat). International and public policy: 10 years government experience. Financial services, technology, legal: 7 years private sector experience.
Since high school, I’ve been drawn to foreign policy. I was an active history student and participant in Model United Nations and went on to study at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. Before becoming a U.S. diplomat, I spent 7 years in the private sector gaining experience in the financial services, technology, and legal industries. For the past 10 years, I’ve worked for the federal government, primarily as a diplomat handling political, military, economic, and cybersecurity issues. I’ve applied and strengthened my management, public speaking, and writing skills in the various roles I’ve held.
Not only have I gained strong contacts and knowledge of global policy throughout my career, I’ve helped to achieve foreign policy objectives by building consensus among diverse U.S. agencies and foreign governments. Through interagency collaboration and building solid stakeholder relationships, I’ve garnered support among government officials and policymakers on critical issues such as defense agreements and counter-terrorism policies.
Profile Photo
