Key Embassy Officers
The Embassy staff includes a Deputy Chief of Mission, who acts as the Ambassador's second-in-command and assumes the title of Chargé d'Affaires ad interim in the event the Ambassador should be absent from Australia.
The Political, Economic, Public Affairs and Management Sections of the Embassy are each in the charge of a Counselor of Embassy. The Ambassador, and the officers of the staff through him, report directly to the Department of State in Washington.
The Public Affairs Section, headed by the Counselor for Public Affairs, advises the Ambassador on public diplomacy matters, including media relations. The Public Affairs Section is responsible for the U.S. Government information and cultural programs in Australia.
Army, Naval and Air Attachés, grouped under a Defense Attaché; the Counselor for Agricultural Affairs, and the Senior Commercial Officer are responsible to the Ambassador for general guidance in the performance of their activities and report directly to their respective Departments and Agencies in Washington.
A Labor Attaché and a Regional Resources Attaché are also on the Ambassador's staff. The Labor Attaché follows developments in labor-management relations for both U.S. and Australian interests and the Regional Resources Attaché reports on minerals, energy, and petroleum developments.
Representatives of other U.S. government agencies, such as the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration, are also included within the Embassy staff.