Served twice as U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, leading U.S. policy in two subregions of Asia – South Asia and Central Asia.

Advisor to two Secretaries of State, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, and also to two Deputy Secretaries of State, Robert Zoellick and Richard Armitage.

Served as the principal strategic planner for East Asia and the Pacific on the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff.

During the intensive final phase of the U.S.-India civil nuclear initiative in 2008, co-chaired the U.S. interagency coordinating team of the Departments of State, Energy, and Defense, and the National Security Council - the team  charged with moving the initiative through the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and then through both houses of Congress, where it became the U.S.-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act.

Led the negotiations with India of the bilateral commercial letter of intent for nuclear reactor sales.

Led multiple interagency policy reviews, including of U.S.policy toward the Maoist guerrillas in Nepal as their insurgency ended and the country transitioned from a monarchy to a republic.

Led both bilateral and multilateral negotiations with Central Asian leaders and governments, most notably conditions for Kazakhstan's chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Negotiated U.S. reengagement with the government of Uzbekistan in the wake of a near-total breakdown in bilateral relations.

Led and coordinated a multidomain effort to reengage with Turkmenistan after the sudden death of its first president and the transition to its second leader.

Staffed and supported three-party talks and then the Six Party Talks with North Korea on its nuclear weapons program.

Developed strategies and policy input on U.S.-China strategic relations.

Worked on basing, posture, and alliance realignment with Japan, South Korea, and Australia.

Participated in counterterrorism coordination with the Philippines and Indonesia and helped to mobilize Asian support after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Helped to develop strategies for multinational coordination on Afghanistan, including for two international donors conferences.

Received five Superior Honor Awards from the State Department for outstanding public service.