Stephen Biegun Explained

Office1:20th United States Deputy Secretary of State
President1:Donald Trump
Term Start1:December 21, 2019
Term End1:January 20, 2021
Predecessor1:John Sullivan
Successor1:Wendy Sherman
Office2:United States Special Representative for North Korea
President2:Donald Trump
Term Start2:August 23, 2018
Term End2:January 20, 2021
Predecessor2:Joseph Yun
Successor2:Sung Kim
Birth Name:Stephen Edward Biegun
Birth Date:30 March 1963
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Party:Republican
Education:University of Michigan (BA)

Stephen Edward Biegun[1] (born March 30, 1963) is an American businessman and diplomat who served as the United States deputy secretary of state from December 2019 to January 2021 and United States Special Representative for North Korea from August 2018 to January 2021,[2] vice president of international governmental affairs for the Ford Motor Company,[3] staffer on the National Security Council, as well as national security adviser to Senator Bill Frist.[4]

Early life and education

Biegun was born in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian and political science from the University of Michigan in 1984.

Career

He was the in-country director for the International Republican Institute in Moscow, Russia, from 1992 to 1994. He was a member of the board of the U.S. Russia Foundation, the Moscow School of Political Studies, the U.S.–Russia Business Council, the National Bureau of Asian Research, the US-ASEAN Business Council, and Freedom House.[5] Biegun has held a number of offices within the federal government, including executive secretary of the National Security Council, reporting to national security adviser Condoleezza Rice under President George W. Bush. He was a foreign policy adviser to Sarah Palin during John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.[6] On March 1, 2018, it was reported that Biegun was a top candidate to replace Donald Trump's national security adviser H. R. McMaster.[7] On March 22, it was announced that McMaster would instead be succeeded by John Bolton.

On August 23, 2018, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appointed Biegun as the U.S. special representative for North Korea, directing policy in regard to North Korea on behalf of the Trump administration.[8]

On August 7, 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported that Biegun was a top candidate to replace Jon Huntsman Jr. as United States ambassador to Russia. After John Sullivan was instead nominated, Biegun was nominated to replace him as deputy secretary of state on October 31, 2019. His nomination was confirmed by a 90–3 vote of the U.S. Senate on December 19, 2019.[9] He was sworn in two days later.[10]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Book: Annual Report 2010 . Council on Foreign Relations . November 22, 2019. 9780876094952. 2010.
  2. News: Harris . Gardiner . New York Times . August 23, 2018 . Pompeo Will Return to North Korea Next Week With Reinforcement . August 23, 2018 .
  3. Web site: Stephen E. Biegun . 2018-03-01 . . 2018-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180301215032/https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/people/stephen-e--biegun.html . dead .
  4. News: Shesgreen . Deirdre . USA Today . Secretary of State Pompeo to return to North Korea for nuclear talks . August 23, 2018 . August 23, 2018 .
  5. Web site: FULL: Belfer Center and Korea Project Director's Lunch with Stephen Biegun. 2021-01-20. Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. en.
  6. News: Martin . Jonathan . POLITICO . Palin allies: She's no diva . November 7, 2008 . August 23, 2018 .
  7. News: Nicolle Wallace . Nicolle Wallace . White House preparing for McMaster exit as early as next month . . 2018-03-01 . 2018-03-01.
  8. News: The Straits Times . Mike Pompeo to travel to North Korea, names Stephen Biegun as new special representative . August 23, 2018 . August 23, 2018 .
  9. Web site: PN1266 — Stephen E. Biegun — Department of State. December 19, 2019. U.S. Congress. December 20, 2019.
  10. News: North Korea envoy Stephen Biegun sworn in as Pompeo's No. 2 at State Dept. . Axelrod . Tal . December 21, 2019 . The Hill . January 5, 2020 . en.