John D. Brewer, Jr., Director of the Office of Insular Affairs, joins the International Perspectives speaker series

Francis Marion University’s International Programs hosted John D. Brewer, Jr., the Director of the Office of Insular Affairs at the United States Department of the Interior, on February 25th, 2026. Mr. Brewer is a native of Mars Bluff and graduate of Wilson High School, but his public service work has taken him all over the world. FMU was honored to welcome Mr. Brewer back home to Florence to share his experiences. During his visit, Mr. Brewer spoke about challenges to American diplomacy in Dr. Tobias Lemke’s International Relations course (POLI 203) and led a discussion on the opportunities offered by public service work to an audience of faculty, staff, students, and community members during his International Perspectives keynote. 

Mr. Brewer spoke of his numerous and varied roles within the public service sector, including his senior positions within the Departments of State, Defense, and Treasury. His work has taken him to dozens of countries across the globe to discuss foreign policy, conduct financial investigations, and establish trade relationships.

Having a wealth of knowledge and experience in public service and international work, Mr. Brewer emphasized the role of public servants in upholding an oath to defend the Constitution, support the American people, and engage in diplomacy across cultures. He provided students with advice on how to pursue federal public service jobs, and stressed the importance of flexibility, adaptability, and being receptive to new opportunities, even when they seem outside of your area of expertise.