Brent Christensen

William Brent Christensen (Chinese: 酈英傑; Wade–Giles: Li Ying Chieh) is a United States diplomat who served as the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the de facto embassy of the United States in Taiwan, from 2018 to 2021.[1][2] Christensen's prior appointments include Deputy Director of AIT and Director of the State Department’s Office of Taiwan coordination.[3][4]

This article is about the diplomat. For the former student and convicted killer named Brendt Christensen, see Murder of Yingying Zhang.
William Brent Christensen
United States Chargé d’Affaires to the International Civil Aviation Organization
Assumed office
July 1, 2022
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded bySully Sullenberger
Director of American Institute in Taiwan
In office
August 11, 2018 – July 15, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded byKin W. Moy
Succeeded bySandra Oudkirk
Personal details
BornProvo, Utah
NationalityAmerican
SpouseBrenda Barrus Christensen
Children3
Alma materBrigham Young University
George Washington University
Oregon Health & Science University
ProfessionCareer Diplomat

Early life

Christensen is a native of Provo, Utah, and great-great-grandson of C. C. A. Christensen, a Danish American artist.[5] He earned a BA in Chinese language and literature from Brigham Young University, an MA in East Asian Studies from George Washington University, and a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) from the Oregon Health & Science University. Christensen served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force before joining the Foreign Service.[3][4]

Diplomatic career
Brent Christensen (second from left) as Director of the Office of Taiwan Coordination, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, United States Department of State, met with Ma Ying-jeou in 2011.

Christensen, since 2010, was Director of the State Department’s Office of Taiwan coordination, where he had a primary role in formulating U.S. policy toward Taiwan. In his posting at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing from 2007 to 2010, he served as Counselor for Environment, Science, Technology and Health, where he established the Embassy's air quality monitoring program and led working groups on avian influenza, HIV/AIDS and climate change.[3][4]

Christensen also served as a Congressional Fellow on the staff of former U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe.[3][4]

His earlier overseas postings include Beijing, Hong Kong and South Africa. He joined the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies as foreign policy advisor.[3][4]

In August 2022 Christensen was appointed Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), succeeding Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger.[6]

Honors and awards

On June 18, 2021, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Social Science from National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU).[7]

On June 24, 2021, Christensen was awarded Grand Medal of Diplomacy by Taiwan's ministry of foreign affairs. [8]

On June 25, 2021, Christensen was conferred Presidential Office Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon by Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen.[9][10]

References
  1. "Former AIT deputy chief named director: sources". TAIPEI TIMES. June 10, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  2. "Brent Christensen to be inaugurated new AIT Director on June 12 in Taipei". TAIWAN NEWS. June 10, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  3. "Brent Christensen Assumes Duties as Deputy Director of the Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan". American Institute in Taiwan. August 3, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  4. "W. BRENT CHRISTENSEN FOREIGN POLICY ADVISOR" (PDF). Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. September 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  5. "老友書藝掛牆上！直擊AIT處長酈英傑辦公室" [A glimpse into the office of AIT Director Christensen, with a friend's calligraphy on the wall] (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Formosa Television. January 29, 2020. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020.
  6. "W. Brent Christensen, Charge d'Affaires". U.S. Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization. August 2022. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  7. 酈英傑獲頒中山大學名譽博士 表彰深化台美關係 | 政治 | 重點新聞 | 中央社 CNA
  8. "Remarks by AIT Director W. Brent Christensen at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grand Medal of Diplomacy Award Ceremony". American Institute in Taiwan. June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  9. Chung, Yu-chen; Lee, Hsin-Yin (June 25, 2021). "AIT director receives award from President Tsai". Central News Agency. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  10. "Remarks by AIT Director W. Brent Christensen at Presidential Office Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon Award Ceremony". American Institute in Taiwan. June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
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