Dr. Ashley Hess is a Senior Advisor in the Office of Counterproliferation Initiatives at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.  Her portfolio focuses on DPRK proliferation finance, including pressure and sanctions activities promoting implementation of UN and U.S. sanctions, as well as international security issues related to Syria, Iran, the PRC, and Russia.  She previously served as the Acting UNSCR 1540 Deputy Coordinator as well as a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Special Representative for North Korea.  Dr. Hess also previously worked at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S Government Accountability Office.  She received her PhD in Biodefense at George Mason University; her M.A. in International Relations from Seoul National University; and her B.A. in International Relations and Classics from Brown University.