The assistant secretary of state for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs is the head of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs in the United States Department of State. Their mission is "to provide American leadership, diplomacy, and scientific cooperation to conserve and protect the global environment, ocean, and space for the prosperity, peace, and security of this and future generations". The Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs reports to the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. The goal of the agency is to "Advance America's security and prosperity through international leadership on oceans, environment, science, space, and health".
President Joe Biden nominated Monica Medina as Assistant Secretary on April 27, 2021. Medina was confirmed by the Senate on September 28, 2021, by a vote of 61–36. In 2023 President Biden appointed Jennifer Littlejohn as the new Assistant Secretary of state. Ms. Littlejohn is the assistant secretary of Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.https://www.state.gov/biographies/jennifer-r-littlejohn/ Prior to her current employment Ms. Littlejohn was a deputy director of secretary of states policy planning staff. Her position required her to "serve as a source of independent policy analysis and advice for the Secretary of State" (Policy Planning Staff). Her job mainly consists of developing considerations regarding policies throughout the organization. "The Assistant Secretary sees that such activities are designed and implemented in a manner that furthers overall U.S. foreign policy objectives" (1 FAM 504).https://fam.state.gov/fam/01fam/01fam0540.html#:~:text=The%20Assistant%20Secretary%20advises%20the,and%20the%20U.S.%20private%20sector.
Ms. Littlejohn has made great impacts to help benefit the environment; her most recent project Included her traveling to Sri Lanka, India, and Maldives to discuss climate change, plastic waste, air pollution, deforestation, and more. "In India from August 21 to 28, Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn will engage government officials on collaboration on scientific research, space exploration, combatting wildlife trafficking, and – in Chennai – support for river restoration through the Ambassador’s Water Experts Program" (state.gov).
Assistant secretaries of state for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs, 1975—present #NameAssumed officeLeft officePresident appointed by1Dixy Lee RayJanuary 19, 1975June 20, 1975Gerald Ford2Frederick IrvingApril 28, 1976March 26, 1977Gerald Ford3Patsy T. MinkMarch 28, 1977May 1, 1978Jimmy Carter4Thomas R. PickeringOctober 10, 1978February 24, 1981Jimmy Carter5James L. MaloneJune 1, 1981July 22, 1985Ronald Reagan6John NegroponteJuly 19, 1985November 23, 1987Ronald Reagan7Frederick M. BernthalMay 24, 1988March 16, 1990Ronald Reagan8E. U. Curtis BohlenJune 27, 1990October 31, 1992George H. W. Bush9Elinor G. ConstableJune 2, 1993September 15, 1995Bill Clinton10Eileen B. ClaussenJanuary 19, 1996State Department Archived Biographies—Eileen B. Claussen. .July 18, 1997Bill Clinton11David B. SandalowOctober 28, 1999January 19, 2001Bill Clinton12John F. TurnerNovember 13, 2001July 11, 2005George W. Bush13Claudia A. McMurrayFebruary 21, 2006January 20, 2009George W. Bush14Kerri-Ann JonesAugust 20, 2009April 25, 2014Barack Obama -Judith G. Garber (acting)April 26, 2014September 7, 2017Barack ObamaDonald Trump -vacantSeptember 7, 2017September 7, 2020Donald Trump -Jonathan M. Moore (acting)September 8, 2020January 20, 2021Donald Trump -vacantJanuary 20, 2021August 5, 2021Joe Biden -Marcia Bernicat (acting)August 6, 2021September 28, 2021Joe Biden15Monica MedinaSeptember 28, 2021April 28, 2023Joe Biden -Jennifer R. Littlejohn (acting)May 1, 2023January 20, 2025Joe Biden -Tony Fernandes (acting)January 20, 2025August 6, 2025Donald Trump -John E. Thompson (acting)August 7, 2025May 28, 2026Donald Trump16Wesley BrooksMay 28, 2026PresentDonald Trump
Senior bureau official for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, 2014—2021 PortraitNameAssumed officeLeft officeTitleJudith G. Garber April 26, 2014January 1, 2019(Acting Assistant Secretary April 26, 2014 – September 7, 2017) Senior Bureau Official September 8, 2017 – January 1, 2019Marcia BernicatJanuary 1, 2019April 3, 2020Senior Bureau OfficialJonathan M. MooreApril 3, 2020September 7, 2020Senior Bureau Official April 3 – September 7 (named Acting Assistant Secretary September 8, 2020 - January 20, 2021)Marcia BernicatJanuary 20, 2021August 5, 2021Senior Bureau Official January 20 – August 5 (named Acting Assistant Secretary August 6, 2021) https://www.state.gov/biographies/jennifer-r-littlejohn/ https://www.state.gov/about-us-policy-planning-staff/ https://www.state.gov/acting-assistant-secretary-littlejohns-travel-to-sri-lanka-india-and-maldives/
Notes and references