In this new role, Duckenfield will lead the State Department’s public liaison and domestic outreach efforts as well as its intergovernmental functions and the U.S. Diplomacy Center. He will assist the Bureau of Public Affairs in carrying out its mission to further U.S. foreign policy and national security interests and broaden understanding of American values by communicating with the American people and global audiences.
Duckenfield has been a partner at Balsera Communications since 2007, during which time he has overseen a tripling of the firm’s revenue and personnel growth. He has also led the firm’s public relations practice, representing marquee clients such as the National Museum of the American Latino Commission and UnitedHealthcare. Balsera Communications was also part of the team that led the Hispanic media outreach efforts for the 2008 Obama for President campaign.
Prior to Joining Balsera Communications, Duckenfield directed Latin America and U.S. Hispanic PR efforts for Yahoo! from 2000-07 and managed the National Basketball Association’s communications outreach in Latin America and the U.S Hispanic market from 1996-2000.
Duckenfield began his career as a Foreign Service Officer for the United States Information Agency (now part of the U.S. State Department Undersecretariat for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs), where he served in Mexico City and Bogota, Colombia in a variety of public affairs roles.
He is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and Dartmouth College.
Duckenfield will be taking a leave of absence from his Balsera Communications duties during his appointment.