Under Secretary of State for Management is his official title.
Now, I’m not an expert, but that doesn’t sound like the kind of rank required to call off immediate emergency response to a terrorist attack.
From Wikipedia -
“Under Secretary for Management is a position within the American Department of State that serves as principal adviser to the Secretary of State and Deputy Secretary of State on matters relating to the allocation and use of Department of State budget, physical property, and personnel, including planning, the day-to-day administration of the Department, and proposals for institutional reform and modernization”
Now, according to that, his job is to advise the Secretary of State, and may have some independent influence on state department property and personnel. Could such a person have the authority to call of FEST?
Probably so in regard to routine personnel approvals. In some cases he might recommend and SoS approve. Would the attack of an consulate be considered routine? Hell no. This went to the SoS and the president who is CiC. Obama either said no or ignored the request.