The
head of public affairs at the U.S. Agency for International Development leaves
the agency today to join the public diplomacy shop in Foggy Bottom.
Lynne
Weil, who started as the top spokesperson for USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah in March, turns over the press shop
to her deputy Lars Anderson, who is also in charge of communications matters
involving Afghanistan and Pakistan. No word yet if Anderson will get the job
permanently or if Shah will seek a full time replacement for Weil.
Weil
is taking a new post as senior advisor
to Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Judith McHale. Weil will have a
wide portfolio there, including outreach to Congress and working with
intra-government interlocutors at agencies such as the Broadcasting Board of
Governors and the Government Accountability Office.
That
should be a good fit for Weil, who worked on Capitol Hill as the communications
director for House Foreign Affairs committee chairman Howard Berman (D-CA)
before moving over to USAID. Weil also worked for the late Rep. Tom
Lantos, former Sen. Joe Biden, and was a reporter for some 15 years.
"It
has been very satisfying to be part of USAID at such a pivotal moment in
its history; this is an exciting, transformative time,
and even better times are ahead for this amazing agency," Weil wrote
in a farewell e-mail to colleagues. "The extraordinary, varied
and inspiring work done here in
partnership with people around the globe will bring about a better
future for us all. Serving with them in support of this cause has
been an honor."
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