Jeremy Curtin retired from the U.S. State Department in 2009 after more than thirty years in the Foreign Service, after which he worked as a consultant to the State Department for twelve more years. He specialized in international public affairs and strategic communications, often focusing on national security issues.
In Washington, Mr. Curtin held a number of positions with the U.S. Information Agency, the National Security Council and the U.S. State Department. Working with the U.S. Agency for International Development after the fall of the Berlin Wall, he directed a program to support independent media and other democratic institutions in newly free Eastern Europe. From 2002 to 2005, he was chief of staff and senior adviser to the under secretary of state for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. At retirement, he led the Bureau of International Information Programs.
Curtin has won many awards for his work: In June 2012, Curtin was awarded the annual Equality Award by Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies for promoting benefits for LGBT diplomats and their partners. Curtin also was awarded a Superior Honor Award from the U.S. Information Agency for his work on the Stockholm Conference, a Meritorious Honor Award for his work on democracy-building in Eastern Europe, and a Presidential Meritorious Service Award for his service in Korea.
As a senior fellow, Mr. Curtin helped to develop a program to explore how governmental and non-governmental organizations can incorporate new communication technologies, including social media, to achieve strategic objectives. That program continues to work with U.S. Government and private sector entities to combat trafficking-in-persons activities.
Contact Curtin at commlead@usc.edu.