Alina M. Semo

Alina M. Semo has served as the Director of the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Ombuds, since December 2016. OGIS, a part of the National Archives and Records Administration, opened its doors in 2009 and is charged with providing mediation services to resolve disputes between FOIA requesters and federal agencies, improving compliance with the statute, educating its stakeholders, and improving the administration of FOIA across the federal government.

Semo brings more than 35 years of experience in federal information law, litigation, and oversight to her role. Prior to becoming Director of OGIS, Semo served as Director of Litigation in NARA’s Office of General Counsel. Before joining NARA, she spent nearly fifteen years in the Office of the General Counsel at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including over a decade as Chief of the FOIA Litigation Unit, a unit she helped create shortly after 9/11.

Semo began her federal government career at the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Programs Branch, Civil Division, where she served as a trial attorney and later as senior counsel. Prior to her federal service, Semo practiced law in Washington, D.C.

As Director of OGIS, Semo has overseen the office’s dispute resolution, compliance review, and policy recommendation functions and has supported the consistent administration of FOIA in accordance with statute. As the FOIA Ombuds, Semo is known for her leadership in strengthening FOIA policy and compliance across federal agencies, and works regularly with agencies, requesters, public-interest organizations, and Congress to improve public access to government records.

Semo received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She is a member of the District of Columbia and Maryland bars.