John Berry | |
---|---|
United States Ambassador to Australia | |
In office September 25, 2013 – September 2016 |
|
President | Barack Obama |
Preceded by | Jeff Bleich |
Succeeded by | TBD |
Director of the Office of Personnel Management | |
In office April 13, 2009 – April 13, 2013 |
|
President | Barack Obama |
Preceded by | Kathie Whipple (Acting) |
Succeeded by | Elaine Kaplan (Acting) |
Director of the National Zoological Park | |
In office October 1, 2005 – April 13, 2009 |
|
President | George W. Bush |
Preceded by | Lucy Spelman |
Succeeded by | Steven Monfort (Acting) |
Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation | |
In office 2000–2005 |
|
President |
Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
Succeeded by | Jeff Trandahl |
Personal details | |
Born |
Morrell John Berry February 10, 1959 Rockville, Maryland, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Curtis Yee |
Alma mater |
University of Maryland, College Park Syracuse University |
Morrell John Berry (born February 10, 1959) is an American former government official who was named President of the American Australian Association in 2016. Berry was director of the United States Office of Personnel Management from 2009 to 2013 and United States Ambassador to Australia from 2013 to 2016.
Berry was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, to parents who worked for the federal government. He completed degrees at the University of Maryland, College Park and Syracuse University and worked in local government and as a legislative aide in state government from 1982 to 1985. From 1985 to 1994, he worked as legislative director for U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer. He held posts in the U.S. Treasury Department, the Smithsonian Institution, and the U.S. Department of the Interior until 2000, and worked as director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Zoological Park until 2009, when he was nominated by President Barack Obama as director of the United States Office of Personnel Management. Berry took office after being confirmed by the United States Senate in April 2009. In June 2013, President Obama nominated Berry to replace Jeff Bleich as U.S. Ambassador to Australia. He was confirmed by unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate in August 2013.