The American Security Project cordially invites you to a lunchtime discussion:
Discovering America:
Promoting Tourism, Travel and Enhancing our National Security – with Brand USA
December 12, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Aaron Wodin-Schwartz
Director, Public Policy Liaison – Brand USA
Public diplomacy is about building people to people connections and building lasting relationships. Sometimes a starting point is needed, and foreign tourism of America can provide that and increase our national security.
Tourism reaps many benefits for the United States — it stimulates our economy, creates jobs, and gives people around the world a chance to get to better know America.
Yet America’s share of the world tourism market has waned, and Brand USA has taken up the task of making American tourism competitive again. But how?
Join Aaron Wodin-Schwartz of Brand USA and the American Security Project for a discussion on how Brand USA is working to reap the benefits of tourism to America.
The event will take place at:
1100 New York Ave, NW Washington DC
Suite 710W – Conference Room E
Light lunch refreshments will be served
The discussion will begin promptly at 12:30. Please arrive by 12:00 for registration.
We hope you can join us.
Please RSVP by Dec 10 to events@americansecurityproject.org
About Aaron Wodin-Schwartz:
Aaron Wodin-Schwartz is Director, Public Policy Liaison for Brand USA, the public-private partnership responsible for launching the United States’ first-ever nationally coordinated tourism marketing effort. In this role, Aaron is responsible for working with Federal partners and key industry groups to ensure productive implementation of the Travel Promotion Act, communicate U.S. entry policy, and develop collaborative opportunities to promote inbound travel to the United States. During his tenure with Brand USA, Aaron has successfully established a variety of programs with the Departments of Commerce and State that highlight and help promote the “Discover America” campaign from U.S. embassies, consulates, “American Spaces,” and digital properties around the world.
Aaron joined Brand USA in November 2011, bringing significant public policy and government experience to the Brand USA team. From 2009 to 2011, as a Presidential Management Fellow at the Department of Commerce, Aaron served as policy advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services Industries where he helped implement the Travel Promotion Act. While at the Department of Commerce, Aaron led key departmental initiatives including improvement of services trade statistics, development of strategies to double services industries exports, and the International Trade Administration’s response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Aaron has gained strong Latin American experience during the course of his career, including his work at the State Department where he coordinated U.S.-Brazil efforts on environment, science, technology, and health; economic cooperation, social inclusion; and consular affairs. He holds the M.A. in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies from The George Washington University and the B.A. in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts.
