Sam Parker is the Sanctions Coordinator (PDO) and Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Division for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions in the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs at the Department of State. In this position, Mr. Parker leads overall sanctions strategy and policy for the Department of State and is the lead representative of the United States in diplomatic engagement on sanctions matters.
Immediately prior to this position, Mr. Parker served as special assistant to Michael Needham, Counselor and Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State. Over an 18-year career, Mr. Parker, a career civil servant, has worked in a number of staff and policy positions at the State Department, the National Security Council, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, with a focus on the Middle East.

Mr. Parker received an MA in Arab Studies from Georgetown University and a BA in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College. Mr. Parker and his wife live in Alexandria, VA and have five children.