Kurt Volker
Encyclopedia
Kurt Volker is the former United States Permanent Representative to NATO
, having served in that position from July 2, 2008 to May 15, 2009.
Volker graduated from Temple University
with a B.A. in 1984. Volker also holds an MA in International Relations from The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs
. Volker began his career in foreign affairs as an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency
in 1986.
In 1988, Volker joined the United States Department of State
as a Foreign Service Officer
in the United States Foreign Service
. While in the Foreign Service, Volker served as a legislative fellow on the staff of Senator John McCain
from 1997 to 1998. In 1998, Volker became first secretary
of the US mission to NATO, and in 1999 he became Deputy Director of NATO Secretary-General
George Robertson's
private office, serving in that position until 2001.
Volker then became acting director for European and Eurasian Affairs for the National Security Council
, in that capacity he was in charge of US preparations for 2004 Istanbul summit
of NATO members and the 2002 Prague summit
.
In July 2005, Volker became the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
, serving in that position until he was appointed United States Permanent Representative to NATO in July 2008 by President George W. Bush
.
In 2011, Volker joined BGR Group, a Washington
-based lobbying
firm and investment bank, where he currently serves as a managing director in the firm's international group.
United States Permanent Representative to NATO
The United States Permanent Representative to NATO is the official representative of the United States to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Representative has the rank of full ambassador and is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
, having served in that position from July 2, 2008 to May 15, 2009.
Volker graduated from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
with a B.A. in 1984. Volker also holds an MA in International Relations from The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs
Elliott School of International Affairs
The Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University is a professional school in international relations. It is located in the heart of Washington, D.C...
. Volker began his career in foreign affairs as an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
in 1986.
In 1988, Volker joined the United States Department of State
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...
as a Foreign Service Officer
Foreign Service Officer
A Foreign Service Officer is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service. As diplomats, Foreign Service Officers formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States. FSOs spend most of their careers overseas as members of U.S. embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic...
in the United States Foreign Service
United 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...
. While in the Foreign Service, Volker served as a legislative fellow on the staff of Senator John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
from 1997 to 1998. In 1998, Volker became first secretary
Diplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank is the system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. Over time it has been formalized on an international basis.-Ranks:...
of the US mission to NATO, and in 1999 he became Deputy Director of NATO Secretary-General
Secretary General of NATO
The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is the chairman of the North Atlantic Council, the supreme decision-making organisation of the defence alliance. The Secretary-General also serves as the leader of the organisation's staff and as its chief spokesman...
George Robertson's
George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen
George Islay MacNeill Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, is a British Labour Party politician who was the tenth Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, between October 1999 and early January 2004; he succeeded Javier Solana in that position...
private office, serving in that position until 2001.
Volker then became acting director for European and Eurasian Affairs for the National Security Council
United States National Security Council
The White House National Security Council in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the...
, in that capacity he was in charge of US preparations for 2004 Istanbul summit
2004 Istanbul summit
The 2004 Istanbul summit was held in Istanbul, Turkey from June 28 to June 29, 2004. It was the 17th NATO summit in which NATO's Heads of State and Governments met to make formal decisions about security topics...
of NATO members and the 2002 Prague summit
2002 Prague summit
The 2002 Prague summit was a NATO summit where the heads of state and government of the NATO member states met. Seven states were at this summit invited to begin accession talks with NATO: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. NATO's post-Cold War Open Door Policy...
.
In July 2005, Volker became the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs is a position within the American Department of State that leads the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs charged with implementing American foreign policy in Europe and Eurasia, and with advising the Under Secretary for...
, serving in that position until he was appointed United States Permanent Representative to NATO in July 2008 by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
In 2011, Volker joined BGR Group, a Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
-based lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
firm and investment bank, where he currently serves as a managing director in the firm's international group.