Natalie Jones

Natalie Jones Hallahan serves as Executive Vice President of Meridian where she oversees Meridian’s three Centers: Global Leadership, Diplomacy and Culture and cultivates strategic philanthropic and programmatic partnerships for the organization. Since joining Meridian in June 2017 as Senior Vice President for External Affairs and Diplomatic Engagement, Jones has driven ​programmatic and financial organizational growth by spearheading the development of new initiatives including the Meridian Council, the Center for Diplomatic Engagement, DiplomacyRISE and Culturefix.

Prior to joining Meridian, she served as Deputy Chief of Protocol of the United States. Throughout her tenure at the U.S. Department of State, Natalie worked with over 100 foreign governments and delegations on their visits to the United States and traveled with the President, Vice President and Secretary of State to advise on protocol and logistical considerations of overseas trips. In her role, she led large teams to plan and execute high-level international summits, state visits and diplomatic events and served as a central interlocutor between foreign governments, the U.S. Department of State and White House throughout the complex planning process. Before being promoted to Deputy Chief of Protocol in July 2011, she served as Assistant Chief of Protocol for Ceremonials from April 2009 – July 2011 where she oversaw the planning of all official and ceremonial events hosted by the Secretary of State. In addition to her leadership and operational experience at the U.S. Department of State, Jones cultivated a network of relationships in the diplomatic community by building a series of public-private partnership programs to promote engagement between leaders in the government, business and cultural sectors and the foreign diplomatic corps.

Jones joined the U.S Department of State with six years of fundraising and development experience. She raised millions of dollars for political candidates and organizations including the Democratic National Committee (2008, 2004), Secretary Hillary Clinton (2007-2008) and Senator Evan Bayh (2004-2006).

Jones graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Emory University in Atlanta, GA and lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, Patrick Hallahan, daughter Eleanor and son Henry.