The Coordinator is the rank equivalent to Assistant Secretary and reports to the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. International Information Programs (IIP) is the principal international strategic communications service for the foreign affairs community.

Stuart W. Holliday became Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Public Affairs in December 2001. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Holliday served as Special Assistant to the President and Associate Director of Presidential Personnel at the White House where he was responsible for the National Security Area. In 2000, Mr. Holliday served as policy advisor to Vice Presidential candidate Dick Cheney and starting in 1998, he served as Deputy Policy Director in the Office of Governor W. Bush. In 1996 and 1997, Mr. Holliday was Executive Director of the Dallas Council on World Affairs and served as an energy consultant. From 1993 to 1995 Mr. Holliday served at the International Republican Institute (IRI) as Regional Director for North Africa, the Middle East and Turkey. In 1992, he served on the staff of the Bush re-election campaign. From 1988 until 1995, Mr. Holliday served in active and reserve positions in the United States Navy. He is the recipient of the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal and other awards.

Mr. Holliday was born in Malawi, Africa where his father was posted as a Foreign Service Officer. He received a B.S. from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and an M.S. from the London School of Economics and Political Science.