Robert Blanco Email & Phone Number

Mexico City, Mexico

Economic Officer in Embassy Mexico City with the energy and mining portfolio. In this role, I develop and implement strategies and programs to advance U.S. energy and mining priorities in Mexico. In coordination with federal agencies across Mission Mexico, I regularly publish reports on developments in these areas and recommend courses of action to Washington. To carry out my work, I cultivate strong relationships with private sector actors, Mexican government counterparts, civil society, and diplomats from like-minded countries.

Baghdad, Iraq

Energy Officer in Embassy Baghdad's Economic Section, where I coordinated the Mission's engagement on energy and environmental issues. In this role, I advanced U.S. national security and commercial interests in Iraq’s oil, gas, and electricity sectors, and reported on policy and reform efforts within the Iraqi government.

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Co-located with the State Department Operations Center, the INR Watch serves as State’s 24-hour intelligence nerve center. Members of the Watch are intelligence gatekeepers for the Department, working to inform State Department Principals of late breaking intelligence on current events and priority policy issues.

Paris Area, France

Environment, Science, Technology, and Health attaché at U.S. Embassy Paris. Served as the lead DOS interlocutor to the government of France on civil nuclear energy, all forms of renewable energy, air quality, wildlife trafficking, and climate change policy.

Port-Au-Prince, Haiti

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Staffed the Senator on all issues relating to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.Met with constituent groups and organizations regarding trade issues.Drafted the opening remarks for a subcommittee hearing titled “Doing Business in Latin America: Positive Trends but Serious Challenges.”

Sacramento, Ca

A policy and legislative aide, I managed a diverse policy portfolio that included revenue and taxation, government reform, transportation and housing, judiciary, and local government issues. Legislative highlights include sole staffing responsibility for SB 234, the so-called Amazon Tax - signed into law by Gov. Brown in 2011 - and SB 202, a measure barring ballot initiatives from appearing on low-turnout primary election ballots, also signed into law in 2011. Other legislative measures in my portfolio signed into law during my tenure include a measure protecting water rights for tenants, and a measure to provide the CA Attorney General the ability to convene a Grand Jury in the instance of multi-jurisdictional crime. In my position, I sought to contribute to the policy-making process in government and non-profit sectors as a part of a larger goal to work for the public interest. Previously, I served in Sen. Hanock's office as a CA Senate Fellow, before being hired on as a legislative aide to the Senator from the 9th Senate District. In the Fall, I will begin at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government as a Master in Public Policy student.SpecialtiesLegislative analysis, legislative research, library research, events organizing

Master Of Public Policy, John F. Kennedy School Of Government

B.A., History, Business Administration

Education record