James B. Cunningham
Encyclopedia
Ambassador James Blair Cunningham (born 1952) is an American
diplomat
. Having served as the acting United States Ambassador to the United Nations
(January to September 2001), and Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2001 to 2005, with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
), Cunningham served as the Consul General of the United States of America in Hong Kong and Macau from August 2005 to June 2008. He was the U.S. ambassador to Israel
June 2008 – June 2011.
he is serving at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan
. His current title is Deputy Ambassador For Kabul, Afghanistan.
, Pennsylvania
. He graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University
in 1974, with degrees in Political Science
and Psychology
.
He has served as the Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the United States in Rome
before becoming an ambassador to the United Nations. He has spent most of his career working on European political and security issues, and in multilateral diplomacy.
He served from 1989 to 1990 as Chief of Staff to NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner. His responsibilities included advising the Secretary General on the entire range of NATO issues in the context of the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact
and the Soviet Union
.
Cunningham became Deputy Advisor for Political Affairs at the United States Mission to the United Nations
in August 1990, just after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. He returned to Washington as Deputy Director of the State Department
's Office of European Security and Political Affairs in 1992, becoming Director in 1993. As Director, he was involved in many aspects of US policy toward Europe, including NATO, arms control and disarmament, and Bosnia. After a year of senior officer development training, he took up his duties in Rome in August 1996.
As Consul General, (from 2005–2008) Cunningham was responsible for Hong Kong and Macau, both special administrative region
s of the People's Republic of China
. He is known in Chinese as 郭明瀚 Guō Mínghàn.
He is the recipient of the State Department's Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards and the National Performance Review's Hammer Award. He is married to Leslie Genier of Mineville, New York
. The couple has two daughters, Emma and Abigail
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. Having served as the acting United States Ambassador to the United Nations
United States Ambassador to the United Nations
The United States Ambassador to the United Nations is the leader of the U.S. delegation, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The position is more formally known as the "Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador...
(January to September 2001), and Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2001 to 2005, with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
), Cunningham served as the Consul General of the United States of America in Hong Kong and Macau from August 2005 to June 2008. He was the U.S. ambassador to Israel
United States Ambassador to Israel
The United States Ambassador to Israel is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state of Israel.Until 1948 the area that is now the state of Israel had been under British administration as part of the League of Nations/United Nations British Mandate for...
June 2008 – June 2011.
he is serving at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan
U.S. Embassy, Kabul
The Embassy of the United States in Kabul is the diplomatic mission of the United States in Afghanistan. It is located in the Wazir Akbar Khan section of the Afghan capital, Kabul, and is home to the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan. Ryan Crocker is the current Ambassador. Richard Holbrooke, who died...
. His current title is Deputy Ambassador For Kabul, Afghanistan.
Personal life and career
Cunningham was born in AllentownAllentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1974, with degrees in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
.
He has served as the Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the United States in Rome
American diplomatic missions
This is a list of diplomatic missions of the United States.-History:Morocco, in December 1777, became the first nation to recognize the United States and together they maintain the United States' longest unbroken treaty.Benjamin Franklin established the first overseas mission of the United States...
before becoming an ambassador to the United Nations. He has spent most of his career working on European political and security issues, and in multilateral diplomacy.
He served from 1989 to 1990 as Chief of Staff to NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner. His responsibilities included advising the Secretary General on the entire range of NATO issues in the context of the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
and the 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....
.
Cunningham became Deputy Advisor for Political Affairs at the United States Mission to the United Nations
United States Ambassador to the United Nations
The United States Ambassador to the United Nations is the leader of the U.S. delegation, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The position is more formally known as the "Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador...
in August 1990, just after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. He returned to Washington as Deputy Director of the State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
's Office of European Security and Political Affairs in 1992, becoming Director in 1993. As Director, he was involved in many aspects of US policy toward Europe, including NATO, arms control and disarmament, and Bosnia. After a year of senior officer development training, he took up his duties in Rome in August 1996.
As Consul General, (from 2005–2008) Cunningham was responsible for Hong Kong and Macau, both special administrative region
Special administrative region (People's Republic of China)
A special administrative region is a provincial-level administrative division of the People's Republic of China, for which creation is provided by Article 31 of the 1982 Constitution of the People's Republic of China Article 31 reads "The state may establish special administrative regions when...
s of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. He is known in Chinese as 郭明瀚 Guō Mínghàn.
He is the recipient of the State Department's Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards and the National Performance Review's Hammer Award. He is married to Leslie Genier of Mineville, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The couple has two daughters, Emma and Abigail