John F. Tefft | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2014 | |
| 8th United States Ambassador to Russia | |
| In office November 19, 2014 – September 28, 2017 | |
| President |
Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Michael McFaul |
| Succeeded by | Jon Huntsman Jr. |
| 7th United States Ambassador to Ukraine | |
| In office December 7, 2009 – July 29, 2013 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | William B. Taylor Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Geoffrey R. Pyatt |
| United States Ambassador to Georgia | |
| In office August 23, 2005 – September 9, 2009 | |
| President |
George W. Bush Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Richard Miles |
| Succeeded by | John R. Bass |
| United States Ambassador to Lithuania | |
| In office August 30, 2000 – May 10, 2003 | |
| President |
Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Keith C. Smith |
| Succeeded by | Stephen D. Mull |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 16, 1949 Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Spouse | Mariella Cellitti Tefft |
| Children | 2 |
| Education |
Marquette University (
BA) Georgetown University ( MA) |
John F. Tefft (born August 16, 1949) is an American diplomat who has served as a Foreign Service Officer since 1972. He was the United States Ambassador to Russia between July 31, 2014 and September 28, 2017. [1] He had previously served as the United States' ambassador to Ukraine, [2] Georgia, and Lithuania.
Early life and education
Tefft was born in Madison, Wisconsin. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University and a Master of Arts in history from Georgetown University. [3]
Career
Tefft is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, with the personal rank of Minister-Counselor. He joined the United States Foreign Service in 1972 and has served in Jerusalem, Budapest, Rome, Moscow, Vilnius, Tbilisi, and Kyiv.[ citation needed]
Until his appointment as ambassador to Georgia, he was the deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs since July 6, 2004. Tefft also served as International Affairs Advisor (Deputy Commandant) of the National War College in Washington, D.C. From 2000 to 2003, he was the United States Ambassador to Lithuania. He served as deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow from 1996 to 1999 (when Pickering was ambassador), and was chargé d'affaires at the Embassy from November 1996 to September 1997.[ citation needed] Tefft served as Director of the Office of Northern European Affairs from 1992 to 1994, Deputy Director of the Office of Soviet Union (later Russian and CIS) Affairs from 1989 to 1992, and Counselor for Political-Military Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Rome from 1986 to 1989. His other foreign assignments included Budapest and Jerusalem, as well as service on the U.S. delegation to the START I arms control negotiations in 1985.[ citation needed]
Ambassador to Ukraine
On September 30, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Tefft as the ambassador to Ukraine. [4] He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 20, 2009. [5]
Tefft arrived in Ukraine on December 2, 2009, [5] and President Viktor Yushchenko accepted Tefft's credentials of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on December 7, 2009.[ citation needed] The ambassador expressed his hope for fruitful cooperation. Tefft delivered his speech in Ukrainian. [6]
On February 26, 2013, President Obama nominated Geoffrey R. Pyatt to succeed Tefft as Ambassador of the United States to Ukraine. [7] Pyatt was sworn in on July 30, 2013, and arrived in Ukraine on August 3, 2013. [2]
Ambassador to Russia
In July 2014, President Obama nominated Tefft as the United States Ambassador to Russia in Moscow, after receiving Russia's approval. [8] The Senate confirmed Tefft in a voice vote on July 31, 2014. [9] The confirmation followed several attempts as a number of ambassadorial appointments were being held up at the time. Strained relations with Russia over pro-separatist activity in eastern Ukraine, the country's annexation of Crimea, and the alleged shooting down of a commercial airliner, prompted senators to finally approve the nomination. He presented his credentials to President Vladimir Putin on November 19, 2014, [10] and left the position on September 28, 2017. [11]
In 2016, the Russian governor of the Samara Oblast, Nikolay Merkushkin, advised AvtoVAZagregat employees for help in paying wages and appeals to US Ambassador John Tefft. [12] [13]
Awards
Tefft has received a number of awards, including the State Department Distinguished Honor Award in 1992 and the DCM of the Year Award for his service in Moscow in 1999. He received Presidential Meritorious Service Awards in 2001 and 2005.[ citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ Itkowitz, Colby. "Senate confirms nominee to be ambassador to Russia". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
- ^ a b Yanukovych accepts credentials from new US ambassador, discusses with him Ukrainian-US relations, Interfax-Ukraine (August 15, 2013)
- ^ "Wisconsin native and savvy diplomat Tefft picked for Russia ambassador". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 10, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ Ex- US ambassador to Georgia John Tefft to lead diplomatic mission in Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine (September 30, 2009)
- ^ a b New U.S. ambassador Tefft arrives in Kyiv, Interfax-Ukraine (December 2, 2009)
- ^ Yushchenko accepted credentials of US Ambassador and Ambassador of Turkey to Ukraine, UNIAN (December 7, 2009).
- ^ Office of the Press Secretary (February 26, 2013). "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved September 10, 2013 – via National Archives.
- ^ "Obama's new man in Moscow is former ambassador to Crimea". Moscow News.Net. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ "SENATE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS". www.periodicalpress.senate.gov. June 28, 2018.
- ^ "Ambassador Tefft Presents Predentials to President Putin". Embassy of the United States, Moscow. Archived from the original on November 21, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ "Американский посол Теффт улетел из Москвы до назначения преемника" (in Russian). Interfax. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
- ^ Samara Governor Merkushkin advised AvtoVAZ employees to ask the US ambassador for a salary
- ^ There was a record of threats by the governor Merkushkin to deprive AvtoVAZagregat salaries
External links
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Russian Empire(1780–1917) |
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Soviet Union(1933–1991) | |
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Russian Federation (1991–present) | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
- 1949 births
- Ambassadors of the United States to Georgia (country)
- Ambassadors of the United States to Lithuania
- Ambassadors of the United States to Russia
- Ambassadors of the United States to Ukraine
- Georgetown University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences alumni
- Living people
- Marquette University alumni
- Recipients of St. George's Order of Victory
- People from Madison, Wisconsin
- United States Foreign Service personnel
- 21st-century American diplomats