Washington, DC (July 31, 2018) — The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) today announced the appointment of Diana Ohlbaum as its Senior Strategist and Legislative Director of Foreign Policy.
Contact: Adlai Amor, Friends Committee on National Legislation, media@fcnl.org; 202-812-2223
“We are pleased to announce that Diana Ohlbaum will lead FCNL’s foreign policy efforts to promote US policies in global engagement that lead to a more peaceful and sustainable world,” said Diane Randall, FCNL Executive Secretary. “She brings a wealth of experience not only on Capitol Hill but also in the non-profit world.”
Ohlbaum will lead FCNL’s team of lobbyists focused on peacebuilding, reducing the threat of war, the Middle East and Iran, nuclear weapons, and the Pentagon budget. She joins FCNL on Aug. 20.
“FCNL is a highly respected nonpartisan organization with a long history of advocating for peace, justice, and environmental sustainability,” said Diana Ohlbaum. “We need to help move the U.S. away from a foreign policy based on coercion, threats and violence toward one rooted in cooperation, respect, and diplomacy.”
Ohlbaum worked for nearly two decades on Capitol Hill, where she served as a senior professional staff member of both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Earlier, she was an aide to Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD). Ohlbaum coordinated efforts to overhaul the outdated Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, improve oversight of arms sales and security assistance, and promote diplomacy and multilateralism.
Immediately prior to joining FCNL, Ohlbaum worked as an independent consultant specializing in advocacy, political strategy, and legislative impact. Most of her clients were non-governmental organizations and foundations working in sustainable development and human security.
From 1999-2001 she served as deputy director of USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives, a cutting-edge unit designed to advance peace and democracy in priority conflict-prone countries. She also worked as director of public policy for InterAction, an alliance of nongovernmental organizations engaged in humanitarian relief and international development.
Ohlbaum is currently a member of the executive committees of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network and the Center for International Policy. She also serves on the Advisory Council of the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area. She holds a Ph.D. in political science from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. in Russian studies from Amherst College.
Founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), FCNL lobbies Congress and the administration for U.S. policies that advance peace, justice, and good government.
