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John R. BeyrleAmerican diplomat
Date of Birth: 11.02.1954
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Early Diplomatic Career
- Senior Roles in Washington
- Ambassador to Bulgaria
- Ambassador to Russia
Early Life and Education
John Beyrle was born in Muskegon, Michigan, to Joseph Beyrle, a World War II veteran who served in both the US Army and the Soviet Union. Beyrle earned his undergraduate degree from Grand Valley State University and a master's degree from the National War College. He also studied Russian at Middlebury College and spent the spring of 1976 on an exchange program at Leningrad State University.
Early Diplomatic Career
After graduating, Beyrle worked as a guide for several exhibitions in the Soviet Union sponsored by the United States Information Agency. In 1983, he joined the State Department and worked at the US Embassy in Moscow. He served as political officer in Bulgaria, political and economic counselor at the Embassy in Prague, and a member of the US delegation to arms control negotiations in Vienna.
Senior Roles in Washington
In addition to his overseas assignments, Beyrle held several senior positions in Washington. He was Acting Special Advisor to the Secretary of State for the New Independent States, Director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia on the National Security Council, and staff member for Secretaries of State George Shultz and James Baker. He also served as foreign policy advisor to US Senator Paul Simon.
Ambassador to Bulgaria
Beyrle was appointed US Ambassador to Bulgaria on September 8, 2005, and served until June 25, 2008. During his tenure, he signed a defense agreement with the United States that allowed American personnel to train on Bulgarian military bases.
Ambassador to Russia
On May 13, 2008, George W. Bush nominated Beyrle to be US Ambassador to the Russian Federation. The Senate confirmed his nomination on June 27. After arriving in Moscow on July 3, Beyrle returned to the US for further instructions. He returned to Russia in August, shortly after the end of the fighting in South Ossetia. In an interview with Ekho Moskvy in September, Beyrle strongly criticized Russia's actions in Georgia.
Under President Barack Obama's "reset" of US-Russian relations, Beyrle played a significant role. He became the first US Ambassador to Russia to write a blog in Russian.
