John F. Tefft
Encyclopedia
John F. Tefft is the United States Ambassador to Ukraine
. He has been a career Foreign Service Officer for thirty-three years.
Tefft is also a former United States Ambassador to Georgia
and Lithuania
, as well as former Chargé d'Affaires
of the U.S. Embassy in Russia.
in 1972 and has served in Jerusalem, Budapest
, Rome
, Moscow
, Vilnius
and Tbilisi
.
Until his appointment as ambassador to Georgia, he was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs from July 6, 2004. Tefft also served as International Affairs Advisor (Deputy Commandant) at the National War College
in Washington, DC. From 2000 to 2003, he was the United States Ambassador to Lithuania
. He served as Deputy Chief of Mission
at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow from 1996 to 1999 (when Pickering
was Ambassador), and was Chargé d'Affaires
at the Embassy from November 1996 to September 1997. Tefft has also served as Director of the Office of Northern European Affairs from 1992 to 1994, Deputy Director of the Office of Soviet Union (later Russian and CIS) Affairs from 1989 to 1992, and Counselor for Political-Military Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Rome from 1986 to 1989. His other foreign assignments included Budapest and Jerusalem, as well as service on the U.S. Delegation to the START
arms control negotiations in 1985.
In addition, he has served in a number of positions at the State Department in Washington, D.C. and held a fellowship, working in the United States Congress
.
nominated Tefft as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. The U.S. Senate appointed Tefft as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine on November 20, 2009. Tefft arrived in Ukraine
on December 2, 2009. President of Ukraine
Victor Yushchenko accepted Teffts credentials of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador on December 7, 2009. The Ambassador expressed his hope for fruitful cooperation. Tefft delivered his speech in Ukrainian
.
in 1992 and the DCM of the Year Award for his service in Moscow in 1999. He received Presidential Meritorious Service Awards in 2001 and 2005.
and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Marquette University
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
and a Master’s degree in history from Georgetown University
in Washington, D.C.
Tefft is married to Mariella Cellitti Tefft, a biostatistician and nurse. They have two daughters, Christine, 35, a lawyer in Washington, DC and Cathleen, 28, an Executive Assistant at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.
United States Ambassador to Ukraine
The history of Ambassadors of the United States to Ukraine began in 1992.Until 1991 the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic had been a constituent SSR of the Soviet Union. Upon the breakup of the USSR, the parliament of Ukraine declared the nation’s independence on August 24, 1991...
. He has been a career Foreign Service Officer for thirty-three years.
Tefft is also a former United States Ambassador to Georgia
United States Ambassador to Georgia
This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to Georgia.The United States recognized Georgia's independence on December 25, 1991, and established diplomatic relations March 29, 1993.The U.S...
and Lithuania
United States Ambassador to Lithuania
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Lithuania.The United States first established diplomatic relations with the Baltic states in 1922. One ambassador, resident in Riga, Latvia, was appointed to all three nations. Relations with the three nations were broken after the Soviet...
, as well as former Chargé d'Affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
of the U.S. Embassy in Russia.
Diplomatic career
Ambassador Tefft is a career member of the United States Senior Foreign Service, with the personal rank of Minister-Counselor. He joined the United States Foreign ServiceUnited States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
in 1972 and has served in Jerusalem, Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
and Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
.
Until his appointment as ambassador to Georgia, he was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs from July 6, 2004. Tefft also served as International Affairs Advisor (Deputy Commandant) at the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
in Washington, DC. From 2000 to 2003, he was the United States Ambassador to Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. He served as 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 Moscow from 1996 to 1999 (when Pickering
Thomas R. Pickering
Thomas Reeve "Tom" Pickering , is a retired United States ambassador. Among his many diplomatic appointments, he served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 1989 to 1992.-Early life:...
was Ambassador), and was Chargé d'Affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
at the Embassy from November 1996 to September 1997. Tefft has also served as Director of the Office of Northern European Affairs from 1992 to 1994, Deputy Director of the Office of Soviet Union (later Russian and CIS) Affairs from 1989 to 1992, and Counselor for Political-Military Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Rome from 1986 to 1989. His other foreign assignments included Budapest and Jerusalem, as well as service on the U.S. Delegation to the START
Start
Start can refer to multiple topics:* Takeoff, the phase of flight where an aircraft transitions from moving along the ground to flying through the air* Start date, in filmmaking* Start, Louisiana, a town in the United States...
arms control negotiations in 1985.
In addition, he has served in a number of positions at the State Department in Washington, D.C. and held a fellowship, working in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
Current Post
On September 30, 2009 U.S. President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominated Tefft as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. The U.S. Senate appointed Tefft as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine on November 20, 2009. Tefft arrived in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
on December 2, 2009. President of Ukraine
President of Ukraine
Prior to the formation of the modern Ukrainian presidency, the previous Ukrainian head of state office was officially established in exile by Andriy Livytskyi. At first the de facto leader of nation was the president of the Central Rada at early years of the Ukrainian People's Republic, while the...
Victor Yushchenko accepted Teffts credentials of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador on December 7, 2009. The Ambassador expressed his hope for fruitful cooperation. Tefft delivered his speech in Ukrainian
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
.
Awards
Tefft has received a number of awards, including the State Department Distinguished Honor AwardDistinguished Honor Award
The Distinguished Honor Award is an award of the United States Department of State. Similar versions of the same award exist for the former U.S. Information Agency, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and USAID...
in 1992 and the DCM of the Year Award for his service in Moscow in 1999. He received Presidential Meritorious Service Awards in 2001 and 2005.
Biography
John Tefft is a native of Madison, WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and a Master’s degree in history from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Tefft is married to Mariella Cellitti Tefft, a biostatistician and nurse. They have two daughters, Christine, 35, a lawyer in Washington, DC and Cathleen, 28, an Executive Assistant at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.