Joe Kaesshaefer is currently Counselor for Commercial Affairs for the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, Australia, and Wellington, New Zealand, and works from the U.S. Consulate in Sydney. From 2008 to 2011, Joe served as the Commercial Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia. From 2004 to 2008, Joe was the Commercial Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Prior to that, from 2000 to 2004, Joe served as the Commercial Counselor at the U.S. Embassy, Vienna, Austria, and was accredited to Slovakia as well. From 1998 to 2000, Joe was appointed as the Acting Director of the U.S. Export Assistance network in Northern and Central California, Hawaii, and Nevada, where he was responsible for leading the export promotion programs of 10 offices. From 1994 to 1998, Joe served as the Commercial Consul at the U.S. Consulate, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In 1993 and 1994, Joe worked in Paris, France at both the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Commercial Service office at the U.S. Embassy. From 1987 to 1993, Joe acted as a Trade Specialist in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Prior to joining the Department of Commerce in 1987, Joe worked for a travel assistance firm in their London, England, and Washington, D.C. offices, and for two U.S. Senators as a junior aide.

In 1983, Joe received a B.A. in International Affairs from the George Washington University. Joe attended the International Transactions Masters Program at the George Mason University. Joe is married to Scoti Albrecht, and they have a son, Maxwell.