How can I find out the intellectual manpower of the U.S. Department of State?

February 3, 2006 5:17 AM

How can I find out the intellectual manpower of the U.S. Department of State?

I'm starting a research project looking at the U.S. Government's relative priorities in the international arena. Specifically, I want to know how many analysts/specialists there are in each major branch (political, economic, security, diplomacy/cultural affairs, etc.) of State's operations. I don't need to know who or where they are or what particular issues they're following, so I can't imagine this even touches on being sensitive or FOIA-related information.

The website doesn't seem to have any employment figures, though, and the main contacts listed on the Public Affairs page are an email address that probably goes down the rabbit hole and a telephone number that goes to an answering machine. Our good friend Wikipedia has only the Department's total number of employees (~30,000) listed. Help?

posted by kittyprecious to Law & Government (8 answers total)

Probably your best source would be the Census. They count people working for the federal government. I didn't search their website entirely and the info may not be there. Try contacting them to see if there is a breakdown such as you seek, I'm sure they could help you.
posted by JJ86 at 6:11 AM on February 3, 2006

Call the public affairs office, explain (briefly) what you need, and ask them if they can help or who you should call.
202-647-2492
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:25 AM on February 3, 2006

Oops, sorry. Didn't see that you'd already tried calling. Is that the number? Because I've never gotten a machine.
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:26 AM on February 3, 2006

Best answer: I just called 202-647-2492 and if you wade through the menu, choice 9 gets you through to a public affairs officer 9AM-4PM, EST. That should do it.
posted by Xurando at 6:30 AM on February 3, 2006

Also this:

Public Inquiries and Opinions
Public Communication Division
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC 20520
Phone: [phone]
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:35 AM on February 3, 2006

That last number looks like a good one. Believe it or not, generally federal employees are pretty helpful when you get them on the phone. Just be polite and be patient.
posted by empath at 6:48 AM on February 3, 2006

You might be able to derive this from the State Department's last appropriations bill. Also, poke around on OPM's site.

I can't imagine this even touches on being sensitive or FOIA-related information.

It might; the CIA, for example, officially keeps the number of employees it has secret. State does secret stuff, too, so they might be similarly touchy about this.
posted by profwhat at 7:02 AM on February 3, 2006

It could be as profwhat says, but as I understand it, the secret stuff undertaken by State is typically done by those who are under official cover, and thus on the payroll.

I'd imagine the DoS public affairs office & OPM are excellent advice.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 7:47 AM on February 3, 2006