Thomas E. Lersten is a member of the Senior Foreign Service and since April 2026 serves as the acting director of the National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC). Lersten previously was the Senior Economic Advisor for the Deputy Secretary of State. From January to October 2025, he served as the Acting Undersecretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment (E). As such, he led the State Department’s efforts to promote commercial diplomacy, and priorities related to energy, maritime affairs, and science and technology.

From August 2024 to January 2025, he served as Senior State Department Fellow for the Americas at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he advocated for U.S businesses as a policy advisor, promoting U.S. private sector engagement and investment throughout the region. Prior to that he served as the Deputy Chief of Mission and Political Counselor in the U.S. Mission to the Organization of American States. From 2020-2021 he served as the Political and Economic Counselor at U.S. Embassy Havana, Cuba, and before that as the Deputy Director in the Office of Central American Affairs.

Earlier assignments include U.S. Embassy Managua, the Consulate General in Dubai, U.S. Embassy Moscow, and in the Bureau of European Affairs and the Bureau of Counterterrorism. He is the recipient of numerous Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards.

Mr. Lersten earned an M.S. in National Security Studies from the National War College, an M.A. in International Affairs from the American University, and a B.A from Gustavus Adolphus College. He is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico.