Geography and Foreign Policy
- 4sarahstyle
- Nov 10, 2022
- 2 min read
Dr. Lee Schwartz, The Geographer of the United States and Director of the Office of the Geographer and Global Issues
At its simplest, geography helps understand the world – and human phenomena – spatially. However, as challenges become more complex and technology more sophisticated, the discipline is moving far beyond its roots in drawing national boundaries.
As our November speaker has written, “Geography in the 21st century is more and more about understanding the human element. (…) Geography today is using the power of visualization and new participatory mapping tools to increase our understanding of the changing relationships between humans and their physical, social and political environment.”
Dr. Lee Schwartz is the State Department’s 8th Geographer, a position that was established in 1921 and bears the statutory responsibility for providing guidance to all federal agencies on questions of international boundaries and sovereignty claims. He directs research and analysis on global issues primarily related to complex humanitarian emergencies and environmental sustainability. He has designed and coordinated fieldwork and applied geography projects in the many of the world’s most conflicted countries. His work encompasses ethnic conflict, refugee flows, peacekeeping operations, food and water security, human and wildlife trafficking, and strategic warning – with an emphasis on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Participatory Mapping, and Remote Sensing information coordination. .
Previously, he held positions in the State Department as Division Chief for Global Issues and for United Nations and Humanitarian Concerns. Prior to joining the Office of The Geographer, Dr. Schwartz was a member of the faculty of The American University’s School of International Service
Among other honors, Dr. Schwartz is a recipient of a 2018 Presidential Rank Award, the Association of American Geographers’ Anderson Medal of Honor in Applied Geography, the State Department’s Warren Christopher Award for Outstanding Achievement in Global Affairs, and the James Cullum Medal from the American Geographical Society. He has a Ph.D. in geography from Columbia University.