Diane E. Kelly is a retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer, with expertise in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and China. She is a trustee of USEK (University) in Lebanon; serves as a freelance Mideast policy consultant; is active in social justice, civil and animal rights issues; Chairs the Social Justice

Committee at her parish and is President of her community in northern Virginia. Diane has extensive diplomatic, congressional, executive and public affairs experience and a focus on peacemaking, women’s welfare, youth, law enforcement and counter-terrorism.

As Consul General and Principal Officer for the south of France, Corsica, and Monaco based in Marseille (2011-14), she oversaw a historic and large consular district, American welfare concerns, and performed outreach to marginalized communities. She was the first Policy Advisor in Secretary Clinton’s Global Women’s Office (2009-11) and was Director for India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Maldives (2007-09). As Chief of the Civilian Observer Unit in the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai (2004-06), she negotiated the deployment of Egyptian Armed Forces on the border with Gaza.

With a long career in diplomacy, Diane has also served in Hong Kong and Macau, Tunisia, and Egypt. In Washington, she was desk officer for China, North Africa, Egypt and was Deputy Public Affairs Advisor for the Near East and South Asia.

She has an M.S. in International Strategic Studies from the National War College (Washington, DC); a graduate degree in Journalism from American University (Washington, DC); and a B.A. in Philosophy and in Government from Georgetown University (Washington, DC).

She is a graduate of the National Security Executive Leadership Seminar, and has pursued advanced studies in Leadership, Security Issues, Equal Opportunity and Executive Training. She has been awarded four Superior Honor Awards and speaks French, Arabic, and Cantonese.