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Desalenge Mekonnen
Africa Division Executive Producer, Voice of America
Desalenge (Des) Mekonnen is responsible for overseeing the production needs of VOA’s Africa Division. He ensures that all production work is staffed, works with Division managements to fill vacancies and develop a production budget, and hires and trains new producers. Des also fills in on programs when needed, and produces and hosts his own half-hour weekly music program for the Horn of Africa Service. Des is a native of Ethiopia; he started at VOA as an intern in 1997. In 2001, Des become a VOA employee, starting as a productions specialist. In that role he produced a variety of different programs for different services in the African Division and delivered flawless shows with utmost courtesy to everybody.