Mark Brzezinski Explained

Mark Brzezinski
Office:United States Ambassador to Poland
President:Joe Biden
Term Start:February 22, 2022
Predecessor:Georgette Mosbacher
Office2:United States Ambassador to Sweden
President2:Barack Obama
Term Start2:November 24, 2011
Term End2:July 1, 2015
Predecessor2:Matthew Barzun
Successor2:Azita Raji
Birth Name:Mark Francis Brzezinski
Birth Date:7 April 1965
Party:Democratic
Alma Mater:Dartmouth College (BA)
University of Virginia (JD)
St Antony's College, Oxford (DPhil)
Spouse:Carolyn M. Campbell (div.)
Natalia Brzezinski (div.)
Parents:Zbigniew Brzezinski
Emilie Benes Brzezinski
Relatives:Ian Brzezinski (brother)
Mika Brzezinski (sister)
Matthew Brzezinski (cousin)
Awards:Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, Order of the Polar Star, Commander 1st Class

Mark Francis Brzezinski (born April 7, 1965) is an American lawyer serving as the United States Ambassador to Poland since 2022. He previously served as the United States Ambassador to Sweden from 2011 to 2015 under President Barack Obama.

The son of Zbigniew Brzezinski,[1] former US National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter, Brzezinski attended Dartmouth College, the University of Virginia Law School, and St. Antony's College, Oxford.[2]

Early life and education

Brzezinski is the son of Emilie Benes Brzezinski and Polish-born former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, and the grandson of Polish diplomat Tadeusz Brzeziński. His mother is the grandniece of former Czechoslovak president Edvard Beneš. His sister is Mika Brzezinski, co-host of the morning talk show Morning Joe, and his brother is military expert Ian Brzezinski. He is also first cousin of author Matthew Brzezinski.

Brzezinski graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts in government, earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia Law School, and holds a Doctor of Philosophy in political science from Oxford University. He also earned a Fulbright Scholarship to study the Constitutional Tribunal of the Republic of Poland.[3]

Career

Brzezinski was a corporate and securities associate at Hogan & Hartson LLP in Washington, D.C. from 1996-1999. From 1999-2001, Brzezinski served in the Clinton administration as a director of Russian/Eurasian affairs and director of Southeast European affairs of the National Security Council at the White House. In that capacity, he was White House coordinator for U.S. democracy and rule of law assistance programs for the region.

Brzezinski was a foreign policy advisor to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama,[4] and was later appointed Ambassador to Sweden by Obama.[5]

Ambassador to Poland

On May 26, 2021, The New York Times reported that President Joe Biden was considering nominating Brzezinski to be the United States Ambassador to Poland.[6] Brzezinski was officially nominated on August 4.[7] On August 9, 2021, his nomination was sent to the Senate.[8] Hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on December 1, 2021. His nomination was favorably reported by the committee on December 15, 2021, and was confirmed by the Senate on December 18, 2021 by voice vote.[9]

Brzezinski was sworn in as the United States Ambassador to Poland on January 19, 2022 by Vice President Kamala Harris.[10] He presented his credentials to President Andrzej Duda on February 22, 2022.[11] [12]

Awards

In 2007 President of Poland Lech Kaczyński decorated him with Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. The order was awarded "for outstanding contributions to the development of Polish-American relations and for promoting a positive image of Poland in the world".[13]

In 2018, he received the Order of the Polar Star, Commander 1st Class.[14]

Personal life

He is currently divorced.[15] His first wife was Carolyn M. Campbell, a lawyer.[16] His second wife, from 2008 until 2022, was Natalia Brzezinski, née Lopatniuk.[17]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-08-04 . Biden taps Brzezinski son as Poland ambassador amid reported row . 2022-07-25 . France 24 . en.
  2. Web site: reichardr . Ambassador Mark Brzezinski . 2022-07-25 . U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Poland . en-US.
  3. Web site: Mark Brzezinski Former United States Ambassador To Sweden . NDI . 2 August 2018 . National Democratic Institute . 17 August 2021.
  4. Web site: The Talent Primary . 15 September 2007 . Newsweek.com.
  5. News: Seven ambassadors confirmed by Senate. The Hill's Floor Action Blog. Pete Kasperowicz. The Hill. October 18, 2011.
  6. News: Biden is said to be planning to nominate Burns and Garcetti for ambassadorships. The New York Times. 27 May 2021. Karni. Annie.
  7. Web site: 2021-08-04. Biden nominates Mark Brzezinski as US ambassador to Poland. 2021-08-05. AP NEWS. en.
  8. Nominations Sent to the Senate . August 9, 2021 . The White House . Washington, D.C. .
  9. Web site: PN1004 — Mark Brzezinski — Department of State 117th Congress (2021-2022) . US Congress . 18 December 2021. 20 December 2021.
  10. Web site: Vice President Harris Ceremonially Swears In Mark Brzezinski as Ambassador to Poland . The White House on YouTube . 19 January 2022 . 20 January 2022.
  11. Web site: Potocka . Joanna . Mark Brzezinski już w Polsce. To nowy ambasador Stanów Zjednoczonych . RMF 24 . 21 January 2022.
  12. Web site: 2022-02-22 . Ambassador Mark Brzezinski's Credentialing Ceremony . 2022-03-04 . U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Poland . en-US.
  13. Web site: Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 14 marca 2007 r. o nadaniu orderów. 2022-02-03. isap.sejm.gov.pl.
  14. Web site: 2018-04-09 . Council of American Ambassadors . 2023-05-17 . Council of American Ambassadors . en.
  15. Viva! (April 5, 2023), "We met for the first time after 20 years, we found that the chemistry is still ongoing." The love story of Mark Brzezinski and Olga Leonowicz. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  16. News: The New York Times. Carolyn M. Campbell Is to Marry Mark Brzezinski, a Fellow Lawyer. December 22, 1991. 55.
  17. Steve Clemons (September 6, 2008), Congratulations Natalia Lopatniuk & Mark Brzezinski. Retrieved November 23, 2019.