William Joseph Burns
Encyclopedia
William J. Burns an American
diplomat, is the current Deputy Secretary of State and the highest ranked Foreign Service Officer
in the United States. He is only the second serving career diplomat in U.S. history to become Deputy Secretary. Burns was United States Ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008.
, Burns earned a B.A. in History from La Salle University
and M.Phil. and D.Phil. degrees in International Relations from Oxford University, where he studied as a Marshall Scholar. He is the recipient of three honorary doctoral degrees. Ambassador Burns is the author of Economic Aid and American Policy Toward Egypt, 1955-1981 (State University of New York Press, 1985). He speaks Russian, Arabic, and French, and is the recipient of two Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and a number of Department of State awards, including two Distinguished Honor Awards, the 2006 Charles E. Cobb, Jr. Ambassadorial Award for Initiative and Success in Trade Development, the 2005 Robert C. Frasure Memorial Award, the James Clement Dunn Award, and five Superior Honor awards. In 1994, he was named to TIME Magazine's list of the "50 Most Promising American Leaders Under Age 40", and to TIME's list of "100 Young Global Leaders."
From 2005 to 2008, Burns was the United States ambassador to Russia.
On January 18, 2008, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
announced that Burns will be nominated as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs in March 2008, which is usually the highest position occupied by a career appointee in the State Department (outranked only by the secretary and deputy secretaries). Burns is expected to travel to Switzerland
to receive an official message from Iran
, the first time a U.S. official has ever done so.
On June 6, 2008, Burns was promoted to the rank of Career Ambassador, the highest personal rank that can be awarded to U.S. foreign service officer
s. The rank was awarded by nomination of the President and confirmation by the Senate
.
Burns was the acting United States Secretary of State
, having taken office on January 20, 2009, with the inauguration of President Barack Obama
. He served in the post until the confirmation of Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton
which occurred on January 21, 2009.
Burns has also garnered attention for a report he signed as ambassador, A Caucasus Wedding, on a Dagestani wedding, which has received wide praise and been labelled "almost worthy of Evelyn Waugh".
On July 27, 2011 Burns was confirmed by the United States Senate by unanimous consent
to be Deputy Secretary of State, and assumed the office the following day upon the resignation of James Steinberg
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat, is the current Deputy Secretary of State and the highest ranked 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. He is only the second serving career diplomat in U.S. history to become Deputy Secretary. Burns was United States Ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008.
Early life
Born at Fort Bragg, North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Burns earned a B.A. in History from La Salle University
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
and M.Phil. and D.Phil. degrees in International Relations from Oxford University, where he studied as a Marshall Scholar. He is the recipient of three honorary doctoral degrees. Ambassador Burns is the author of Economic Aid and American Policy Toward Egypt, 1955-1981 (State University of New York Press, 1985). He speaks Russian, Arabic, and French, and is the recipient of two Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and a number of Department of State awards, including two Distinguished Honor Awards, the 2006 Charles E. Cobb, Jr. Ambassadorial Award for Initiative and Success in Trade Development, the 2005 Robert C. Frasure Memorial Award, the James Clement Dunn Award, and five Superior Honor awards. In 1994, he was named to TIME Magazine's list of the "50 Most Promising American Leaders Under Age 40", and to TIME's list of "100 Young Global Leaders."
Career
Burns served from 2001 until 2005 as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, and was Ambassador to Jordan from 1998 until 2001. Ambassador Burns has also served in a number of other posts since entering the Foreign Service in 1982, including: Executive Secretary of the State Department and Special Assistant to the Secretary of State; Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow; Acting Director and Principal Deputy Director of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff; and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council staff.From 2005 to 2008, Burns was the United States ambassador to Russia.
On January 18, 2008, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
announced that Burns will be nominated as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs in March 2008, which is usually the highest position occupied by a career appointee in the State Department (outranked only by the secretary and deputy secretaries). Burns is expected to travel to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to receive an official message from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, the first time a U.S. official has ever done so.
On June 6, 2008, Burns was promoted to the rank of Career Ambassador, the highest personal rank that can be awarded to U.S. 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...
s. The rank was awarded by nomination of the President and confirmation by the Senate
Advice and consent
Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts, describing a situation in which the executive branch of a government enacts something previously approved of by the legislative branch.-General:The expression is...
.
Burns was the acting United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
, having taken office on January 20, 2009, with the inauguration of President Barack Obama
Barack 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...
. He served in the post until the confirmation of Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
which occurred on January 21, 2009.
Burns has also garnered attention for a report he signed as ambassador, A Caucasus Wedding, on a Dagestani wedding, which has received wide praise and been labelled "almost worthy of Evelyn Waugh".
On July 27, 2011 Burns was confirmed by the United States Senate by unanimous consent
Unanimous consent
In parliamentary procedure, unanimous consent, also known as general consent, or in the case of the parliaments under the Westminster system, leave of the house, is a situation in which no one present objects to a proposal. The chair may state, for instance: "If there is no objection, the motion...
to be Deputy Secretary of State, and assumed the office the following day upon the resignation of James Steinberg
James Steinberg
James Braidy "Jim" Steinberg is an American academic and political advisor, and former Deputy Secretary of State. He is currently Dean and Professor of Social Science, International Affairs, and Law at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.-Early career:He...
.