Embassy of the United States

Press Releases

Arrival of U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation John Beyrle

July 3, 2008

For Immediate Release 

U.S. Ambassador John Beyrle arrived in Moscow July 3 to take up his post.

Ambassador Beyrle was nominated by President George W. Bush on May 13, 2008, and confirmed by the Senate on June 27, 2008. He was sworn in as the United States Ambassador to the Russian Federation on July 2, 2008.

A career officer in the senior Foreign Service at the rank of Minister-Counselor, Ambassador Beyrle has held policy positions and foreign assignments with an emphasis on U.S. relations with Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and the USSR since joining the State Department in 1983.

Ambassador Beyrle’s overseas service has included two tours at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, including as Deputy Chief of Mission. Most recently he served as Ambassador to Bulgaria. Previously he was Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Prague, and a member of the U.S. Delegation to the CFE Negotiations in Vienna. Washington assignments include Acting Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for the New Independent States, and Director for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council. He served as a staff officer to Secretaries of State George Shultz and James Baker, and as a Pearson Fellow and foreign policy adviser to the late Senator Paul Simon. Ambassador Beyrle is the recipient of numerous State Department awards.

A native of Muskegon, Michigan, Ambassador Beyrle received a B.A. degree with honors from Grand Valley State University, and an M.S. degree as a Distinguished Graduate of the National War College, where he later taught as a Visiting Professor of National Security Studies. His foreign languages are Bulgarian, Czech, French, German and Russian. He is married to Jocelyn Greene, a fellow Foreign Service Officer; they have two daughters, Alison and Caroline.