John F. Tefft

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from John Tefft)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". 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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". 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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". 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

File:US DOS Distinguished Honor Award.svg

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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

See also

Script error: No such module "Portal".

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b Yanukovych accepts credentials from new US ambassador, discusses with him Ukrainian-US relations, Interfax-Ukraine (August 15, 2013)
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Ex- US ambassador to Georgia John Tefft to lead diplomatic mission in Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine (September 30, 2009)
  5. ↑ a b New U.S. ambassador Tefft arrives in Kyiv, Interfax-Ukraine (December 2, 2009)
  6. ↑ Yushchenko accepted credentials of US Ambassador and Ambassador of Turkey to Ukraine, UNIAN (December 7, 2009).
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Samara Governor Merkushkin advised AvtoVAZ employees to ask the US ambassador for a salary
  13. ↑ There was a record of threats by the governor Merkushkin to deprive AvtoVAZagregat salaries

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Sister project

Diplomatic posts
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check United States Ambassador to Lithuania
2000–2003 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check United States Ambassador to Georgia
2005–2009 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check United States Ambassador to Ukraine
2009–2013 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check United States Ambassador to Russia
2014–2017 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded byas Chargé d'affaires
Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

Template:US Ambassadors to Ukraine Template:US Ambassadors to Russia

Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=John_F._Tefft&oldid=1635834"