Constance C. Arvis's term ended on Jan. 31, 2022.
Constance “Conny" C. Arvis, a Senior Foreign Service Officer, was the acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Fisheries, and Polar Affairs in the State Department’s Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES). She was also the bureau’s lead for galvanizing efforts to counter malign influences, and particularly those of the People’s Republic of China.
Prior to this assignment, Ms. Arvis was the Director of the OES Office of Science and Technology Cooperation (STC) where, under her leadership, STC developed and implemented international policy in support of cutting-edge technology - artificial intelligence; quantum computing - and promulgation of global research integrity.
Prior to returning to OES, Ms. Arvis was selected as a National Security Affairs Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, where she focused on pandemics - prior to the current COVID-19 outbreak. She has also served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Luanda, Angola, where she ensured the smooth functioning of the Embassy during both a severe Angolan economic downturn and a dual Yellow Fever/Malaria outbreak which killed thousands. For her work, the Ambassador nominated her for the James A. Baker III Award for Outstanding Deputy Chief of Mission. Prior to her assignment in Angola, Ms. Arvis served on the staff of Deputy Secretary of State where she focused on policy for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the environment. Immediately prior to those assignments, she served in Pakistan as the acting Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar and as the deputy political councilor at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.
Ms. Arvis is a fluent German speaker, a rusty Portuguese speaker, and a person who once spoke Pashto. She is the recipient of multiple Department of State awards. Ms. Arvis holds a JD from the UCLA School of Law and is a member of both the California and Hawaii bar associations. Prior to joining the Department of State, Ms. Arvis practiced law in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she clerked for the Hawaii State Supreme Court, and worked for the law firm of Cades Schutte Fleming and Wright. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from Duke University.
Ms. Arvis spent her formative childhood years in Santa Barbara, California. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities and indulges her plant addiction.
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
