Former USG official

JOHN ERNEST SULLIVAN

Washington, DC • 202-***-**** • ******************@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Senior Foreign Service Officer (FS-01, Political Cone) and decorated former U.S. Army officer with more than 30 years of distinguished service advancing U.S. foreign policy across Asia and Latin America. Deep expertise in China and Indo-Pacific affairs, cross-Strait dynamics, political-military analysis, and high-level diplomatic engagement. Proven track record delivering Cabinet-level intelligence assessments, building interagency partnerships, and leading high-performing multicultural teams. Recognized for analytical rigor, sound judgment under pressure, and the ability to translate complex regional dynamics into clear, decision-ready policy recommendations. CORE COMPETENCIES

n China & Indo-Pacific Regional Analysis n Political-Military Affairs & Strategic Competition

n Intelligence Production & Analytical Writing

n Interagency Policy Development

(NSC/DoD/IC)

n Crisis Response & Operations Coordination n Executive Briefing & Senior Leader Advisory n Cross-Strait Relations & Taiwan Policy n Maritime Security & South China Sea Affairs n Consular Leadership & Immigration Policy n Governance, Rule of Law & Political

Reporting

n Diplomatic Engagement & Negotiation n Leadership, Mentorship & Talent Development

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Advisor (FS-01) 2023–2025

Office of China Coordination (“China House”) — U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC

• Served as principal integrator of Department-wide PRC policy, aligning 12+ regional bureaus and functional offices with NSC and interagency stakeholders on U.S.-China strategic competition.

• Led development of senior-level briefing materials and policy recommendations on Taiwan cross-Strait dynamics, semiconductor export controls, and First Island Chain maritime security.

• Facilitated high-stakes interagency coordination with NSC, OSD, and IC on Indo-Pacific contingency planning and crisis response; supported principals-level bilateral and multilateral forums involving PRC officials.

• Mentored junior officers and mid-grade analysts on China portfolio tradecraft and interagency engagement best practices. Senior Political Analyst — China Portfolio (FS-01) 2020–2023 Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) / East Asia & Pacific Affairs (EAP) — U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC

• Produced all-source strategic political analysis on CCP leadership dynamics, elite intra-party politics, and domestic stability indicators for the Secretary of State and NSC principals.

• Authored classified intelligence assessments on Taiwan, Hong Kong political repression, Xinjiang human rights, and PLA military modernization, disseminated across the interagency community.

• Delivered regular oral briefings to Under Secretary- and Assistant Secretary-level officials; collaborated with CIA, DIA, and NSA counterparts to synchronize analytical judgments for National Intelligence Estimates.

• Represented INR at interagency Red Cell exercises simulating PRC escalation scenarios in the Taiwan Strait. Chief, Consular Section (FS-02) 2017–2020

U.S. Embassy Panama City, Panama

• Directed all consular operations—visa adjudication, American Citizen Services, fraud prevention—for one of the highest-volume posts in the Western Hemisphere; managed a 28-person team and $2.4M budget with zero audit findings.

• Designed enhanced visa fraud detection protocols that reduced fraudulent approvals by an estimated 30%, subsequently adopted as a regional best practice.

• Built partnerships with Panamanian immigration authorities and law enforcement to advance U.S. border security and economic interests. Political Officer — Senior Reporting Officer (FS-02) 2015–2017 U.S. Embassy New Delhi, India

• Led political reporting on India’s foreign and security policy, emphasizing Indo-Pacific strategy, India-China border tensions, and New Delhi’s role in the evolving Quad framework.

• Maintained a robust contact network spanning the Ministry of External Affairs, Parliament, and strategic think tanks; supported 2+2 Ministerial and Strategic and Commercial Dialogue preparatory sessions. Political Officer — Governance & China Affairs (FS-03) 2012–2015 U.S. Embassy Hanoi, Vietnam

• Served as Embassy’s primary officer tracking Vietnam-China relations, South China Sea territorial disputes, and ASEAN regional security dynamics; reporting was cited by NSC and EAP senior staff.

• Contributed to U.S. policy formulation on ASEAN Code of Conduct negotiations and freedom of navigation operations. Desk Officer — Brazil Portfolio (FS-03) 2010–2012

Office of Brazilian and Southern Cone Affairs (WHA/BSC), Washington, DC

• Coordinated U.S.-Brazil bilateral policy across trade, defense, energy, and environmental portfolios; produced widely read policy memos and daily cables on political and macroeconomic trends. Political Officer (FS-04) 2007–2010

U.S. Embassy Brasília, Brazil

• Reported on Lula administration domestic politics and Brazil’s rising regional and global influence; maintained senior contacts across federal ministries, political parties, and civil society.

Watch Officer (FS-04) 2005–2007

Operations Center (S/ES-O) — U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC

• Served as real-time crisis coordination nexus for the Secretary of State; briefed principals on breaking international developments and managed interagency emergency response during critical incidents including the 2006 Lebanon crisis. Political Officer (FS-05) 2002–2005

U.S. Embassy Manila, Philippines

• Covered Philippine governance, U.S.-Philippines VFA implementation, counterterrorism cooperation, and China’s growing Southeast Asian footprint; reported on cross-Strait implications for Philippine security policy. Consular Officer (FS-06) 2000–2002

U.S. Embassy Mexico City, Mexico

• Adjudicated high-volume nonimmigrant visa applications and provided emergency consular assistance to U.S. citizens at one of the world’s largest diplomatic missions.

U.S. ARMY — COMMISSIONED OFFICER (CAPTAIN)

Nuclear Engineer / NBC Operations Officer 1992–2000 U.S. Army, Various Assignments

• Commissioned through the West Point Nuclear Engineering program; served eight years in progressive technical and leadership roles.

• Commanded an NBC Reconnaissance Platoon providing real-time hazard detection, contamination control, and force protection advisory for a 3,500-person brigade-level element.

• Served as Unit Nuclear Surety Officer; conducted compliance inspections and ensured adherence to DoD 5210.41-M Nuclear Weapons Security Standards with a perfect safety record.

• Designed and executed NBC hazard response training achieving 95% unit readiness rates; awarded Army Commendation Medal (two awards) for exceptional technical leadership and operational planning. EDUCATION & TRAINING

B.S., Nuclear Engineering — United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, 1992 • Senior Seminar, National Security Affairs — NFATC, 2019 • Senior Threshold Training — Foreign Service Institute, 2016 LANGUAGES

Portuguese — Professional Working Proficiency (ILR 3) • Spanish — Professional Working Proficiency (ILR 3) PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & RECOGNITION

n American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) — Member since 2000 n Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) — Term Member (2018–2024) n Asia Society Policy Institute — Associate Participant, Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue Series n Association of the United States Army (AUSA) — Life Member • West Point Association of Graduates — Life Member n State Department Superior Honor Award (2022); Meritorious Honor Awards (2015, 2019)

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