Regina M. Wiener

Global Strategy & Operations | Knowledge & Cultural Programs

LocationWashingtonDistrict of Columbia, United States
Current roleRESEARCH & PROGRAM STRATEGYsince Sep 2025
Government service20yrsU.S. Department of State(DOS)

About

With 20+ years in federal service and nearly a decade leading enterprise workforce strategy and organizational transformation, I specialize in aligning global training, operations, and policy with mission-critical outcomes in complex, internationally distributed environments.
I have led initiatives supporting 70,000+ personnel worldwide, driving workforce modernization, leadership development, and training strategy across the U.S. foreign affairs enterprise. My work is grounded in cross-functional and international collaboration, partnering with 20+ interagency and global stakeholders to design and scale programs that translate strategic priorities into operational capability across diverse institutional contexts.
As a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and program leader, I have managed over $19M in combined budgets, strengthening accountability, transparency, and execution across multi-division programs. This includes building overseas instructor capacity, implementing enterprise-wide SOPs, and developing systems for budget and performance tracking that support institutional effectiveness and continuous improvement.
I bring a dual lens of strategic leadership and operational execution, with a focus on turning policy into structured, scalable systems through stakeholder alignment and data-informed decision-making. My experience in field engagement and program evaluation ensures that programs remain grounded in real-world implementation environments and responsive to evolving mission needs.
Alongside this federal leadership work, I have expanded into research, archival transcription, museum education, and proposal development, deepening my engagement with historical interpretation, knowledge production, and public-facing communication. This work reflects a long-standing interest in how institutions preserve, interpret, and communicate knowledge across audiences, and strengthens my ability to bridge analytical, cultural, and narrative approaches to complex subject matter.
Earlier experience in media production, storytelling, and communications continues to inform my approach to research and education, reinforcing a commitment to making complex ideas accessible, meaningful, and engaging for diverse audiences.
I am particularly interested in roles at the intersection of workforce strategy, international programs, research, and cultural or knowledge institutions, where I can continue working at the intersection of systems of governance and systems of knowledge.

Roles

Sep 2025–Present
Current role

RESEARCH & PROGRAM STRATEGY

RESEARCH & PROGRAM STRATEGY

Freelance | 2025 - Present

  • Co-authored research manuscripts and analytical reports, synthesizing complex information into clear, publication-ready content for academic and professional audiences.

  • Developed and refined strategic proposals, aligning research initiatives with organizational priorities and resource requirements.

  • Delivered museum education programming as a docent, translating complex historical and cultural content into engaging, accessible experiences for diverse audiences.

  • Supported the accuracy, preservation, and interpretation of primary source materials.

  • Operated across research, public engagement, and knowledge dissemination, bridging scholarly output with public-facing education and communication.

  • Applied structured learning in project management, nonprofit operations, and marketing strategy to support planning, execution, and stakeholder engagement across multiple initiatives.

  • Managed multiple concurrent projects independently, demonstrating high levels of initiative, analytical rigor, and attention to detail in deadline-driven environments.

Jan 2006–Sep 2025
Former role

Senior Management Analyst

U.S. Department of State(DOS)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE | 2006 – 2025

Senior Leadership, Strategic Operations, Workforce Transformation, and Executive Advisory

Foreign Service Institute (FSI)

Office of the Provost, Senior Management Analyst | Global Training Strategy & Workforce Empowerment | 2024 – ‘25

  • Partnered with senior executives to refine SOPs, staffing plans, budgets, and global training designs, ensuring organizational alignment and scalability.

  • Applied AI to streamline executive communications, legislative justifications, and strategic writing – accelerating decision-making and enhancing cross-agency clarity.

  • Coordinated across 20+ global entities to expand leadership, supervisory, and crisis preparedness development opportunities, across dispersed and diverse regions, including week-long international and domestic trainings and workshops.

  • Established feedback loops to strengthen team engagement and ensure field input shaped executive strategy.

  • Updated, reviewed, and edited training materials and curriculum for 508 compliance, routine curricular updates and new course designs.

Office of the Director, Senior Management Analyst, Strategic Workforce Modernization | 2023 – ’24

  • Spearheaded Department-wide training restructuring strategy; produced 80+ recommendations driving efficiency and long-term organization realignment.

  • Directed delivery of thousands of training hours to 70,000+ staff worldwide, including coordination of week-long international and domestic trainings and workshops.

  • Early adopter in the Department’s AI pilot; provided user acceptance testing and operational assessment to inform adoption priorities and user experience.

  • Optimized workflows and executive writing with AI, including complex strategic materials and proposed AI solutions for curriculum modernization and instructional design across a decades-old training program.

Leadership & Management School Dean’s Office, Business Operations Lead | 2021 – ’23

  • Oversaw $7M budget, contracts, personnel, executive communications, program operations, and strategic priorities, ensuring fiscal and operational discipline and policy development.

  • Created SOPs and operating systems for data, contract, and resource tracking, boosting transparency and accountability.

  • Advised senior leadership on HR, budget, travel, and procurement policies; managed leadership, supervisory, and crisis preparedness training initiatives, stakeholder coordination, implementation strategy, performance metrics on institutional contracts.

School of Professional & Area Studies Dean’s Office, Business Operations Lead | 2016 – ’21

  • Directed $12M budget, contracts, personnel, executive communications, program operations and strategies to align with mission priorities.

  • Designed and deployed intern programming during COVID-19, ensuring engagement and continuity and facilitated the transition to a virtual working and training environment, coordinating technological needs and finding solutions to new challenges.

  • Created a SharePoint-based budget execution and contract oversight, institutionalizing scalable resource management.

  • Advised and trained senior leadership on HR, budget, travel, and procurement policies on critical institutional contracts.

Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for FSI | 2008 – ’16

  • Acted as trusted advisor and liaison to senior executives; managed priorities, communications, and engagement with internal and external stakeholders.

  • Drafted executive communications, strategic briefings, and reporting for top leadership.

  • Directed travel, planning, and execution of high-visibility leadership meetings, conferences, and diplomatic visits and engagements.

  • Influenced the creation of the FSI Innovation Lab to accelerate digital transformation.

U.S. Embassies in Latin America, Caribbean, and West Africa
Executive Assistant to the Ambassador, Chargé d’Affaires, & Deputy Chief of Mission | 2006 – ’11

  • Supported U.S. crisis management and leadership during natural disasters and other high-profile events, including the evacuation effort of thousands of American citizens in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

  • Coordinated travel, protocol, representational events, and VIP visits, including Secretary of State, and Congressional delegations; managed and supervised Chief of Mission Residence representational, service, maintenance, and kitchen staff for engagements.

  • Modernized embassy communication and workflow systems, improved embassy process efficiencies, and reduced resource misallocation and waste.

  • Edited and published embassy staff and expatriate community communications, and filmed, edited, and produced embassy public relations and marketing videos and material.

Jan 1999–Dec 2005
Former role

FILM & MEDIA PRODUCTION AND PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCE

FILM & MEDIA PRODUCTION AND PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCE

National Geographic | Defense Logistics Agency | Maryland Public Television | Freelance | 2001 – ’05
Associate Producer, Video Production Manager, Screenwriter, and Script Supervisor

  • Led post-production editing, budgeting, field shoots, and continuity supervision for award-winning documentaries and programming.

  • Strengthened storytelling through research, voiceover direction, and AVID editing across multiple international projects.

Oglebay Institute, Stifel Fine Arts Center | Freelance Dance Studios | 1999 – ’02
Public Relations, Fine and Performing Arts Instructor 

  • Negotiated film programming with production companies; scheduled summer stock theatre; edited newsletters.  Taught performing arts, dance, and theatre workshops for competition and performance pieces.