U. S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Washington D. C.
Expertise:
• NATO’s Strategic Concept
• Meaning and Importance of Article 5
• NATO/EU – Russia Relations
Ambassador Alexander Vershbow is currently the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (ISA). In this capacity, Ambassador Vershbow has responsibility for coordinating U.S. security and defense policies relating to the nations and international organizations of Europe (including NATO), the Middle East and Africa. Mr. Vershbow came to DOD after a 32-year career with the U.S. Foreign Service. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the NATO, U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation and U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea. He held numerous senior positions in Washington, including Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council and State Department Director for Soviet Union Affairs. During his career, he was centrally involved in strengthening U.S. defense relations with allies in Europe and Asia and in transforming NATO and other European security organizations to meet post-Cold War challenges. He was also centrally involved in efforts to promote democracy and human rights in the former Soviet Union. He received a B.A. in Russian and East European Studies from Yale University and a Master’s Degree in International Relations and the Certificate of the Russian Institute from Columbia University. He was the first recipient of the Department of Defense’s Joseph J. Kruzel Award for his contributions to peace in the former Yugoslavia.
• NATO’s Strategic Concept
• Meaning and Importance of Article 5
• NATO/EU – Russia Relations
Ambassador Alexander Vershbow is currently the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (ISA). In this capacity, Ambassador Vershbow has responsibility for coordinating U.S. security and defense policies relating to the nations and international organizations of Europe (including NATO), the Middle East and Africa. Mr. Vershbow came to DOD after a 32-year career with the U.S. Foreign Service. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the NATO, U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation and U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea. He held numerous senior positions in Washington, including Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council and State Department Director for Soviet Union Affairs. During his career, he was centrally involved in strengthening U.S. defense relations with allies in Europe and Asia and in transforming NATO and other European security organizations to meet post-Cold War challenges. He was also centrally involved in efforts to promote democracy and human rights in the former Soviet Union. He received a B.A. in Russian and East European Studies from Yale University and a Master’s Degree in International Relations and the Certificate of the Russian Institute from Columbia University. He was the first recipient of the Department of Defense’s Joseph J. Kruzel Award for his contributions to peace in the former Yugoslavia.
