Lori Michaelson

Serve as the subject matter expert for Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Yemen in the Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR). 

Advise Department leadership on how to achieve energy security for the United States and our allies through increasing access to sustainable, affordable, reliable energy, including through serving on interagency sanctions teams.

Advance the Administration’s international energy policy, leveraging the United States’ abundant energy resources and innovative technologies to advance U.S. national security and prosperity.  Leverage strategic diplomatic engagement to promote affordable and reliable energy access and energy exports.

Work with key stakeholders, including U.S. Mission Iraq and the U.S.-Iraq Business Council, to expand Western company engagement in Iraq's energy sector and resolve ongoing investment disputes and business climate issues across portfolio countries.
Lead ENR’s interagency engagement to formulate, implement, and enforce effective energy sanctions policies in portfolio countries and implement National Security Presidential Memorandum 2.
Expand knowledge of regional geopolitical history, the nexus between U.S. national security and national energy strategies, and the explore the potential for emerging technologies to impact energy security and policy.

Advised agency leadership and the business lines on ways to enhance the alignment of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)’s investment portfolio with U.S. foreign policy and development agendas.

Assisted the Chief Development Officer (CDO) with setting a strategic vision that ensured DFC met its development and foreign policy mandates and that the agency was able to measure and report related impacts.

Facilitated information sharing within DFC and with U.S. embassies and USAID missions to focus DFC’s investment portfolio on U.S. foreign policy and development priorities and assist with documenting and disseminating the organization’s impact narrative.

Conducted interagency outreach, including convening monthly Development Finance Coordination Group (DFCG) meetings, to operationalize interagency tools to identify and support U.S. Government engagement in strategic projects with private sector investors.

Served as the Bureau’s primary advisor for matters pertaining to Mexico’s policies and cooperation in energy, mining, science, and technology.

Led monitoring of U.S. foreign direct investment in Mexico, supporting U.S. business and investment interests, and tracking investment disputes.

Collaborated with the Bureau for Energy Resources (ENR) to advance U.S. engagement with Mexico on its clean energy transition, in part to sustain North American competitiveness.

Led efforts to integrate Mexico into U.S. efforts to build more resilient, diverse, and secure critical mineral supply chains to contribute to America’s economic prosperity and national security.

Monitored and facilitated resolution of investment disputes and full implementation of trade agreements.

Worked with the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) to encourage Mexico to raise its climate ambitions.

Served as the Bureau’s primary advisor for matters pertaining to Mexico’s policies and cooperation in energy, mining, science, and technology.

Led monitoring of U.S. foreign direct investment in Mexico, supporting U.S. business and investment interests, and tracking investment disputes.

Collaborated with the Bureau for Energy Resources (ENR) to advance U.S. engagement with Mexico on its clean energy transition, in part to sustain North American competitiveness.

Led efforts to integrate Mexico into U.S. efforts to build more resilient, diverse, and secure critical mineral supply chains to contribute to America’s economic prosperity and national security.

Monitored and facilitated resolution of investment disputes and full implementation of trade agreements.

Worked with the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) to encourage Mexico to raise its climate ambitions.

Supported implementation of the Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI), Power Sector Program (PSP), and other bilateral initiatives to improve the investment climate and advance energy security goals.

Engaged the Argentine government on liberalizing the country's air market.

Promoted Argentina's participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Improved U.S. Government understanding of the mining and infrastructure sectors and identified opportunities for U.S. engagement and investment.

Reopened dialogue with the Argentine government following presidential elections on civil aviation issues, including tax and profit related issues as well as exploring the possibility of negotiating a new air services agreement.

Ensured economic issues, including money laundering and countering terrorist financing, were addressed in the Embassy's law enforcement working group and its various technical assistance programs.

Supported the Government of Afghanistan's transition from an aid-dominated to a trade-dominated economy through the development, promotion, and implementation of trade policies that promoted regional economic integration and improved the overall investment climate.

Analyzed and reported on issues related to trade facilitation, regional economic integration, and the Afghan business and investment climate; provide policy recommendations to Washington to improve coordination and inform policy decisions.

Coordinated with interagency and regional colleagues to advance implementation of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement and other bilateral and regional trade facilitation and economic integration initiatives.

Served as control officer for congressional delegations and other VIP visits as needed.

Led Embassy coordination with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the interagency at Post, and Afghan government counterparts to facilitate Afghanistan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by the 2014 deadline.

Developed and implemented policies, strategies, and initiatives, and facilitated interagency collaboration and cooperation to achieve U.S. foreign policy objectives related to noncommunicable diseases, food safety, and global health diplomacy.

Served as the International Health and Biodefense Office liaison to the South and Central Asia region, promoted health-focused science and technology cooperation with SCA countries.

Facilitated development and approval of the U.S. international health arrangements for countries.

Planed and delivered the Foreign Service Institute's Global Health Diplomacy course.

Developed and disseminated noncommunicable diseases (NCD) toolkits to U.S. missions to increase worldwide public outreach addressing the prevention and treatment of NCDs.

Monitored Bolivian trade and investment policies, paying particular attention to telecommunications and Intellectual Property Rights issues; noting and reporting on implications for U.S. policy, U.S. business interests, and proposed trade agreement negotiations.

Coordinated with the Regional Foreign Agricultural Service attaché and Bolivian-based staff to promote foreign policy goals.

Facilitated bilateral trade by assessing U.S. export marketing opportunities and overseeing operations of the Embassy Commercial Section, including supervising LES responses to business and trade-related inquiries and overseeing and participating in the Commercial Section's trade promotion efforts.

Served as Honorary (US Embassy) Board Member to the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM).

Coordinated an "Invest in America" seminar for AMCHAM.

Managed the day-to-day operations and personnel of the Fraud Prevention Unit (FPU).

Supported prosecution of consular fraud in a manner consistent with U.S. law and international customs.

Provided guidance to FPU investigators in conducting neighborhood and field investigations, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other State/Mission investigations, documentary inquiries and verifications, and supporting adjudicating officers.

Trained mission, host government, and travel industry employees to detect and prevent fraud involving U.S. travel documents.

Reviewed consular officers' requests for FPU case investigations, assigned cases to LES investigators, interpreted findings, and provided recommendations for further action.

Developed standard operating procedures for combatting petition-based nonimmigrant visa fraud. 

Participated in hiring of new FPU personnel and shared responsibility rating personnel.

Developed and implemented a vision and strategy for BearingPoint’s Federal Grants Management Services practice and used it to establish BearingPoint as a thought leader within the grants management industry, generating over $3 million in revenue.

Led consulting teams providing grants management services to Federal grantmaking agencies.  Work included redesigning grants management processes; designing, developing and implementing grants management systems; designing and delivering business intelligence Proofs of Concept; and designing and providing post-award grant monitoring services. 

Supervised, mentored, and oversaw the performance management of a team of five grants management solution professionals.

As a Consultant/Senior Consultant, delivered a range of consulting services including development of a Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Concept of Operations for the Air Force, consolidation planning for a large regulatory agency, and business rule and high-level activity-based cost (ABC) analyses, as well as a facility net economic benefit analysis for the U.S. Navy.