Margolis, Jonathan

BIOGRAPHY

Jonathan Margolis
Special Representative for Sustainable Development and Director of the Office of Policy Coordination and Initiatives (PCI)
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

END DATE: March 23, 2007

Jonathan Margolis, a career member of the Senior Executive Service, serves as the State Department's Special Representative for Sustainable Development and as the Director of the Office of Policy Coordination and Initiatives (PCI) in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs in the Department of State. Jonathan is also the Senior Coordinator for Global and Functional Programs in the Department's newly created Office of Foreign Assistance. The Office of Foreign Assistance is reforming how the United States Government uses foreign assistance to achieve transformational diplomacy objectives.

In his role as Special Representative, he coordinates U.S. Government efforts to promote policies and partnerships that advance economic growth, social development, and environmental stewardship. He heads the U.S. Delegation to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development and leads interagency processes devoted to this effort. He also served as lead U.S. negotiator at the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

PCI leads the Department's efforts on water issues, coordinates bilateral and regional aspects of the Department's environmental and scientific activities, and engages with other governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society to advance sustainable development. PCI also leads the bureau's strategic planning efforts on oceans, environment, and science.

Prior to moving to PCI, Dr. Margolis served as the Division Chief for the Middle East and Asia in the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation. In this capacity, Jonathan supervised a team of officers responsible for U.S. bilateral cooperation with such countries as Japan, China, India, Israel, Korea, and many others.

From 1991-1996, Jonathan was integrally involved in the multilateral track of the Middle East peace process, representing the U.S. on economic, environment, and water-related issues, and promoting regional cooperation between Israelis, Palestinians, and Middle East countries as part of the peace process.

Dr. Margolis has a Ph.D. from Harvard University in psychology, focusing on negotiation and conflict resolution. He holds a Master's Degree from the Fletcher School of International Law and Diplomacy. His undergraduate degree is in Fine Arts from Harvard College. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at American University, and serves currently as an Adjunct Professor at the Foreign Service Institute.

Updated: January 19, 2007