OIA Staff

Policy Division Staff

David Downes, Policy Division Director

David Downes leads the policy division in the Office of International Affairs.  He supports Departmental coordination on cross-cutting international policy issues such as trade and investment, biodiversity, and climate change. From 2000-2009, David was a Program Analyst in the Department's Office of Policy Analysis.  During that time he served as the Department's Senior Trade Advisor and assisted on other issues ranging from endangered species conservation to geospatial data management.

David is also an adjunct associate professor at the American University's Washington College of Law, and an active member of the International Environmental Law Committee of the American Bar Association. Before commencing government service, he practiced law for nine years with a non-profit environmental organization and three years with a private law firm, both in Washington, D.C. He received his J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School, and has a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Michigan.

Ryan Close, International Policy Analyst

Ryan Close develops policy on international conservation and development issues with particular focus on Canada and the Arctic.  Before joining DOI in 2009, he was a Presidential Management Fellow within the Office of the Secretary of Defense as a member of an interagency task force in the Horn of Africa, and was also detailed to a United Nations development mission in Timor-Leste.  Prior to his fellowship he worked with the Clinton Foundation providing HIV/AIDS relief in Lesotho.  Ryan also served as a U.S. Army officer for five years, during which time he deployed as a tank platoon leader for peacekeeping operations in Macedonia and Kosovo.  Ryan received his undergraduate degree from West Point, and earned graduate degrees in international relations and public policy from the University of Cambridge and the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.

Emily Kilcrease, International Policy Analyst

Emily Kilcrease focuses on environment and trade policy, international environmental cooperation, and technical assistance on natural resource management issues.  Her region of expertise is the Middle East and North Africa. Prior to joining the Office International Affairs, Emily was a DOI Office of the Secretary Management Intern and also held positions with the U.S. Peace Corps, the U.S. House of Representatives, and Students of Georgetown, Inc.

Emily received her M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) concentrating in International Economics and Development and her B.A. from Georgetown University with a focus on Government and was a member of the Government Honors Program.  Emily speaks French and Arabic.

Ethan Taylor, International Policy Analyst

Ethan Taylor coordinates DOI activities relating to the Caribbean and Latin America, in particular Mexico. Before joining DOI's Office of International Affairs, he worked at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of International Conservation, where his responsibilities included grant-making and other international cooperation on conservation initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean.  Ethan also previously worked with the Peace Corps as a recruiter and country desk officer for the Central America sub-region, helping to launch the Peace Corps program in Mexico.  Prior to federal service he worked with the World Wildlife Fund and taught as an adjunct professor at American University.  Ethan was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Panama.  He has a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Oregon and a bachelor's degree in Spanish and environmental science from the University of Virginia. 

International Technical Assistance Program (DOI-ITAP) Staff