Daniel V. Speckhard
Encyclopedia
Daniel V. Speckhard is a United States
diplomat who is formerly the United States Ambassador to Greece
.
, Speckhard received a Bachelors Degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
as well as a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration and a Masters Degree in Economics.
Speckhard served from 1993 to 1997 as Deputy to the Ambassador-at-Large for the New Independent States at the State Department in Washington. He was responsible for a broad range of political, security and economic issues facing large parts of the former Soviet Union
.
As U.S. Ambassador to Belarus
from 1997 to 2000, Speckhard worked closely with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union
in promoting democratic reform, human rights, and institutional development.
From 2003 to 2005, Ambassador Speckhard served at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as Director of Policy Planning responsible for advising and assisting the Secretary General of NATO
, senior NATO management, and the North Atlantic Council
in addressing strategic issues facing the alliance. From 2000 to 2003, he was NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, covering political relations with the countries of Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, and the Mediterranean. During this period, Ambassador Speckhard received the NATO Service Medal for his crisis management work.
His last posting was as the Deputy Chief of Mission
at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad
, Iraq
following a year as Director of the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office there.
Speckhard was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Greece on November 7, 2007 and arrived in Athens on November 15, 2007, where he served until 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat who is formerly the United States Ambassador to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Early life and education
Born in Clintonville, WisconsinClintonville, Wisconsin
Clintonville is a city in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,736 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Clintonville is located at 44°37'27" North, 88°45'29" West ....
, Speckhard received a Bachelors Degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
as well as a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration and a Masters Degree in Economics.
Early career
Prior to joining the State Department in 1990, Speckhard worked for the International Affairs Division of the Office of Management and Budget, the Agency for International Development, a staff member in the U.S. Senate, and in state and local government.Career as a diplomat
From 1990 to 1993, Ambassador Speckhard served as an advisor and then Director of Policy and Resources for the Deputy Secretary of State, coordinating and overseeing foreign aid funding in support of U.S. policy objectives. He received special recognition for his role in reorienting these programs to meet the new challenges of the post-Cold War era.Speckhard served from 1993 to 1997 as Deputy to the Ambassador-at-Large for the New Independent States at the State Department in Washington. He was responsible for a broad range of political, security and economic issues facing large parts of the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
As U.S. Ambassador to Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
from 1997 to 2000, Speckhard worked closely with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
in promoting democratic reform, human rights, and institutional development.
From 2003 to 2005, Ambassador Speckhard served at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as Director of Policy Planning responsible for advising and assisting the Secretary General of NATO
Secretary General of NATO
The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is the chairman of the North Atlantic Council, the supreme decision-making organisation of the defence alliance. The Secretary-General also serves as the leader of the organisation's staff and as its chief spokesman...
, senior NATO management, and the North Atlantic Council
North Atlantic Council
North Atlantic Council is the most senior political governing body of NATO established by Article 9 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The NAC can be held at the Permanent Representative Level , or can be composed of member states' Ministers of State, Defense, or Heads of Government. The NAC has the...
in addressing strategic issues facing the alliance. From 2000 to 2003, he was NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, covering political relations with the countries of Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, and the Mediterranean. During this period, Ambassador Speckhard received the NATO Service Medal for his crisis management work.
His last posting was as the Deputy Chief of Mission
Deputy Chief of Mission
A Deputy Chief of Mission , is the number-two diplomat assigned to an embassy or other diplomatic mission. He or she is usually considered the second-in-command or top lieutenant to the Head of Mission...
at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
following a year as Director of the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office there.
Speckhard was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Greece on November 7, 2007 and arrived in Athens on November 15, 2007, where he served until 2010.