Intention to Appoint Gregory Manuel as Special Advisor to the Secretary and International Energy Coordinator

This new position, at the critical nexus of energy, diplomacy and national security will enhance the State Department’s ability to work in partnership with the Department of Energy and other agencies to address the many foreign policy-related energy challenges we face. It also will enhance our ability to help implement the President’s Advanced Energy Initiative for a clean and secure energy future.

Reporting through the Under Secretary for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs to the Secretary, this new position will provide strategic oversight, develop new policy approaches and initiatives, and fully integrate energy issues into the decision making process at senior levels. Toward that end, the Special Advisor to the Secretary and International Energy Coordinator will work closely with the Department’s regional and functional bureaus, and others responsible for energy issues.

In addition, the Secretary intends to change the title of the Under Secretary for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs to the Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs and the Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs to the Assistant Secretary for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs to reflect the Department’s increased attention to energy matters.

Mr. Manuel currently serves as energy advisor in the Office of the Secretary’s Policy Planning Staff. Previously he served at the National Security Council, where he worked on international economic and energy issues (2001-2003). Mr. Manuel has worked as a venture capitalist for Atlas Venture, co-founded E-DOX, a technology startup in New York City, served as a member of the board of Jadoo Power, and worked as an Investment Banker covering technology and energy companies for J.P. Morgan.

Mr. Manuel has a Masters of Business Administration Degree from the Harvard Business School and a Bachelors Degree in International Relations with Honors in the Humanities from Stanford University.