Communication strategist Elizabeth Allen has been confirmed by the US Senate as the State Department's 10th under-secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs.
Upon taking the oath of office, this would be her sixth role at the department, Matthew Miller, the state department's spokesperson, said at a daily briefing in Washington on Tuesday.
The under-secretary is the State Department's third-ranking official.
Allen in her new role would oversee 5,000 public diplomacy professionals in Washington and worldwide, leading the charge on the US government's foreign policy, public affairs, counter-disinformation and counter‑foreign malign influence efforts, and cultural programming, Miller said.
She previously served as assistant secretary of state for global public affairs and as White House deputy communications director in the Obama administration.
“The under-secretary-designate's confirmation represents the broad consensus that the work of public diplomacy – that of telling America's story, developing the leaders of tomorrow, and building trust and credibility, including by calling out foreign malign influence – is more critical than ever,” said the spokesperson.
“In this role, she will focus on the challenges we face from our adversaries, including countering foreign malign influence and disinformation, particularly through access to digital literacy programs and support of independent media; engaging domestically to explain how foreign policy is working for the people; supporting and resourcing the global public diplomacy team with training and professional development opportunities; and continuing to serve as a strategic counsellor to the secretary.”
Allen began her career as an intern in the office of Global Women's Issues under Secretary Condoleezza Rice and has since served in senior-level communications roles in the White House and private sector.
