James L. (Buddy) Williams

***** ******* ***** *****

North Potomac, Maryland 20878

Telephone: 301-***-**** Email: adbmrk@r.postjobfree.com

Former executive level Foreign Service Officer with skills in Managing, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Information Resources, Event and Operations Planning. In transition/retirement from the U.S. Department of State after serving my country domestically and abroad. I speak advanced Spanish and intermediate Italian and can defend myself in Danish. I transitioned into retirement in September of 2015. I have been actively seeking employment comparable to my domestic and Foreign Service experience.

SECURITY CLEARANCE

Highest: Top Secret/SCI

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

MANAGEMENT

Led a team that managed three office sites, 300+ residential units and a sports complex for more than 20 plus U.S. Government entities assigned to Embassy New Delhi. Was the sole contracting officer for the leasing of new and renewal properties in a high demand market where there was a shortage of suitable housing and strong competition from other foreign diplomatic missions vying for the same units. During my tenure, I implemented cost cutting efficiencies in the housing program by replacing lesser desired apartments and older stand-alone houses with modern multiplex apartment building. Saved the embassy an average of $10,000 per new unit. On the main residential compound, I was responsible for the structural management of the mission’s recreation facility which comprised of two dining facilities, small theater, bowling alley, swimming pool and a multi-use sports field.

I have experience in emergency management having served in countries that were prone to earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, monsoons and dengue fever. I coordinated the mission’s internal response as well as the U.S. Governments financial and material support efforts to the host government.

EVENT PLANNING

As representative of the U.S. government I have experience at all levels. I’ve organized and coordinated formal Black Tie Galas for diplomatic and expatriate communities, and Independence Day events with over 1,000 invitees. Led advance teams for the overseas travel of U.S. Presidents. While in Chile in 2011, I was the designated senior U.S. official with the responsibility to make sure that all/all the requirements dictated by the White House Staff and Secret Service were met for President Obama’s visit in 2011.

On the Executive Staff of the Secretary of State (DOS), I coordinated travel for both the Secretary of State and the Deputy Secretary. I arranged U.S. Air Force and commercial air transport for groups ranging from 7 to 100 passengers, including hotel, security and ground transportation arrangements at each stop.

As Consul General in Curaçao, and Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) in Havana and Santiago, I hosted numerous representational activities, including formal breakfasts, lunches and dinners, U.S. Presidential Election nights, cocktail events and Arts Showcase evenings. These events highlight the cultural ties between the U.S. and the host country. Attendees ranged from members of the civil society to high ranking dignitaries from the U.S., other foreign missions and the host country.

RECRUITING

As a recruiter, I set-up recruiting booths at professional job fairs, universities and military bases. In concert with the Department’s goal of diversifying the ranks of both the Civil and Foreign Service, I attended events organized by national Black, Hispanic, and Women professional societies. I was personally responsible for coordinating the funds, materials and travel arrangements and site contracting for these events. I also mentored entry level and tenured officers, inspiring them to take advantage of training opportunities and jobs that would help their professional growth.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

In the office of Policy, Rightsizing and Innovations, I spearheaded a collaborative initiative with several other bureaus to explore establishing a secure enterprise cloud repository which would improve capacity for retrieval, analysis, and appropriate sharing of information assets.

DIPLOMACY

In Santiago, I coordinated the diplomatic activities of 20 U.S. government agencies assigned to the embassy. I frequently made demarches to the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs on bilateral and multilateral issues in support of U.S goals. I conducted public outreach, speaking engagements, and investigated infringement activities upon American intellectual property rights. I promoted general commerce and military sales between the U.S. and Chile. I guided bilateral and third party capacity building to support Chilean law enforcement entities to train regional police entities to respect and establish human rights policies. As the DCM, I supervised the implementation of the missions allotted funding for DOS worldwide human rights programs. In Chile the funds were used to foment in-country, women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and anti-poverty activism.

In Havana, I orchestrated several first outreach activities and events for the mission. For example, I organized a traditional Islamic Iftar dinner during Ramadan which was attended by many religious faiths. For Black History Month, I organized Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative functions and other jazz, poetry and Afro-dance events, highlighting trans-Afro connections throughout the Americas. I worked with opposition groups, supporting their roles as agents of change in Cuba.

In Curaçao, as a policy, I acknowledged Aruba’s status as a separate legal entity in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, by holding two official Independence Day celebrations, one in Aruba as well as in Curaçao. I made recommendations which facilitated the eventual installation of a Forward Operation Liaison detachment on Curaçao. I worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local law officials to investigate the claims of American citizens when timeshare properties in the Dutch island of “Sint Maarten” failed.

RECENT EMPLOYEMNT

I’m currently employed part-time with the “Professional Bar Service” (PBS) as a server. PBS provides professionally trained servers for cocktails and dinner events at hotels such as the Watergate and Four Seasons, National Cathedral and National Museums and private residences throughout the Washington Metro area including Baltimore and the Eastern Shores of Maryland.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts, History and Latin American Studies, University of Maryland, College Park.

LANGUAGE AND HOBBIES

I speak advanced level Spanish and intermediate Italian and can defend myself in Danish. I enjoy a variety of sports and exercise and I’m a certified open water scuba diving instructor. I’m also a member of the D.C Labor Chorus.

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