Scott Busby

Scott Busby serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC, where he oversees the Bureau’s work in East Asia and the Pacific as well as on multilateral and global issues, including U.S. engagement on human rights at the United Nations, democracy, civil society and governance, disability rights, LGBTI rights, internet freedom, and business and human rights.

Previously, he served as Director for Human Rights on the National Security Council in the White House from 2009 to 2011 where he managed a wide range of human rights and refugee issues. From 2005 to 2009, he was Coordinator of the Intergovernmental Consultations on Migration, Asylum and Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland.

Prior positions include Director of the Office of Policy and Resource Planning at the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration in the Department of State (2000-2005), Director for Multilateral and Humanitarian Affairs at the National Security Council under President Clinton (1997-2000), counsel at the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) (1995-1997) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (1992-1995). He got his start in federal service as an Asylum Officer at INS. Scott holds advanced degrees in sociology and law from the University of California at Berkeley and received his B.A. from Amherst College.