Maria Longi is USAID’s Acting Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for the Middle East, including the efforts of USAID missions and development programs in ten countries in the Middle East and North Africa. She oversees a large and varied portfolio that provides nearly $1.5 billion annually in assistance across the region. She has particular oversight for programs in Syria, Iraq and Egypt, as well as operations of the USAID Middle East bureau.

Prior to joining USAID in December 2015, Ms. Longi served as the Director for Management Policy and Resources in the State Department Bureau of International Organization Affairs - responsible for U.S. government policies toward over 60 international organizations in the areas of administration, management, and internal oversight.

Previously, she worked as Deputy Coordinator in the Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia at the U.S. Department of State.  This office coordinates the bilateral economic, security, democracy, and humanitarian assistance of all U.S. Government agencies providing assistance to 18 states of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. 

From 2006-2008, Ms. Longi worked at the Millennium Challenge Corporation as  the Director for Threshold Programs in 10 developing countries. She volunteered with the American Bar Association, Central and East European Law Initiative in Armenia from 2000-2001, and served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer from 1997-1999 as a non-governmental organization advisor on environmental issues in Poland.   Prior to this, she practiced commercial real estate and environmental law in Cincinnati, Ohio, and also worked as a chemical engineer.

Ms. Longi has a B.S. in chemical engineering from Northwestern University, and a J.D. from Northern Kentucky University, graduating Magna cum laude.  She received a M.S. in National Security Strategy in 2012 from the National War College.