Lydia Muniz was appointed Director of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) in June 2012. Prior to this appointment, she served the organization as Principal Deputy Director. OBO directs the worldwide overseas building program for the Department of State and serves as the real property manager for the U.S. government’s diplomatic properties overseas.

Ms. Muniz was previously with New York University (NYU) from 2001 to 2009 where she served in a number of positions, most recently as Associate Vice President in the Office of Strategic International and Business Projects, advising the university on the development of international branch campuses; and Associate Vice President for the Division of Campus Planning, Design and Real Estate, providing leadership for the University in the areas of capital planning, space planning, design and real estate planning, acquisition and sales.

Prior federal service includes positions as Deputy Director of the Department of Media Affairs in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH); Special Assistant for Policy in the Office of the Secretary of the Army; Legislative Assistant in the Office of Legislative Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); and Office Manager for the Honorable Leon E. Panetta in the U.S. House of Representatives.

A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Ms. Muniz also holds a Masters degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs, with a concentration in Economic and Political Development.