John Beyrle
| John Beyrle | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| United States Ambassador to Bulgaria | |
|
In office July 9, 2005 – April 28, 2008 |
|
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | James W. Pardew |
| Succeeded by | Nancy McEldowney |
| United States Ambassador to Russia | |
|
In office July 2, 2008 – January 10, 2012 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | William Joseph Burns |
| Succeeded by | Michael McFaul |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 11, 1954 Muskegon, Michigan, U.S. |
| Profession | Diplomat, Career Ambassador |
John Ross Beyrle (born February 11, 1954), a career Foreign Service Officer and specialist in Russian and Eastern European affairs, served as Ambassador of the United States to the Russian Federation from July 3, 2008 until January 10, 2012, and as Ambassador to Bulgaria from 2005 to 2008.
Beyrle was Ambassador in Moscow during the "reset" of Russian-American relationship, which saw the signing of the New START arms control treaty, agreement on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization, and liberalized visa formalities for American and Russian travelers.
He retired from the State Department in July 2012 with the rank of Career Minister, the diplomatic equivalent of a three-star general. He serves on the Board of Directors of several non-profit foundations, including the US-Russia Foundation, and as an adviser and business consultant on Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and other countries of the former Soviet Union.
Beyrle was born on February 11, 1954 in Muskegon, Michigan. His father Joseph Beyrle, a decorated World War II veteran, was one of the few American G.I.s to serve with both the United States Army and the Soviet Army (with, incidentally, the legendary tank brigade commander Alexandra Samusenko, allegedly the only female tank officer of that rank in WWII).
Beyrle received his bachelor's degree with honors from Grand Valley State University, and a Master of Science degree as a Distinguished Graduate of the National War College. Beyrle completed additional language study in Russian at Middlebury College. He spent the spring semester of 1976 on an exchange program at Leningrad State University. From 1977-79, he served as a Russian-speaking guide on several of the cultural exhibitions that traveled across the Soviet Union under a program of exchanges organized by the United States Information Agency.
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Wikipedia