C. Kevin Blackstone

Charles Kevin Blackstone is an American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to East Timor from March to August 2021. He previously served as the executive director of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2017 to 2020.

C. Kevin Blackstone
United States Ambassador to East Timor
In office
March 19, 2021 – August 2, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byKathleen M. Fitzpatrick
Succeeded byThomas Daley (Chargé d’Affaires ad interim)
Personal details
Born
Charles Kevin Blackstone[1]
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of Virginia (BA)
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs (MPA)

Early life and education

Blackstone earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and his Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.[2]

Career

Blackstone, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of minister-counselor, has been a career member of the Foreign Service since 1991.[3] He was the minister-counselor for management of the United States Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, and management counselor of the United States embassies in Bangkok, Thailand and New Delhi, India. From 2009 to 2010, he was also the team leader of the United States Provincial Reconstruction Team in Wasit, Iraq. He served as the executive director of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the State Department from 2017 to 2020.[2][3]

Ambassador to East Timor

On May 28, 2020, President Trump nominated Blackstone to be the next ambassador to Timor-Leste. On June 2, 2020, his nomination was sent to the Senate.[4] He appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on December 2, 2020. Blackstone was confirmed by voice vote by the full Senate on December 22, 2020.[5] He was sworn in on January 6, 2021.[6] He presented credentials to Timor-Leste President Francisco Guterres on March 19, 2021.[7]

Blackstone left the ambassadorship in August 2021.[8]

Awards and recognitions

Blackstone is the recipient of numerous State Department awards, including the Expeditionary Service Award.[2]

Personal life

Blackstone and his wife, Alexandra, have an adult son and daughter.[2] He speaks French and Italian.

References
  1. Senate, United States Congress (2011). "Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America". Senate of the United States. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  2. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint the Following Individuals to Key Administration Posts" White House, May 28, 2020. Blackstone's nomination was submitted to the Senate on June 2, 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. "Kevin Blackstone". United States Department of State. July 1, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  4. "Ten Nominations and One Withdrawal Sent to the Senate", The White House, June 2, 2020
  5. "PN1938 — C. Kevin Blackstone — Department of State". U.S. Congress. December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  6. "U.S. Ambassador-Designate to Timor-Leste Kevin Blackstone swearing in ceremony remarks" (Press release). January 6, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  7. "New U.S. Ambassador Kevin Blackstone Presents Credential Letter to President of Republic, Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo" (Press release). U.S. Embassy in Timor Leste. March 19, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  8. de Sousa, Camilio (August 2, 2021). "U.S Ambassador will return to the United State [sic] for urgent personal reason". Tatoli. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
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