Stephen Biegun

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]

Stephen Biegun
Biegun in 2018
20th United States Deputy Secretary of State
In office
December 21, 2019 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJohn Sullivan
Succeeded byWendy Sherman
United States Special Representative for North Korea
In office
August 23, 2018 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJoseph Yun
Succeeded bySung Kim
Personal details
Born
Stephen Edward Biegun

(1963-03-30) March 30, 1963
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BA)

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 is sworn in by Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo to serve as Deputy Secretary of State at the U.S. Department of State on December 21, 2019.

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]

References
  1. Annual Report 2010. Council on Foreign Relations. 2010. ISBN 9780876094952. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  2. Harris, Gardiner (August 23, 2018). "Pompeo Will Return to North Korea Next Week With Reinforcement". New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  3. "Stephen E. Biegun". Ford Motor Company. Archived from the original on 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  4. Shesgreen, Deirdre (August 23, 2018). "Secretary of State Pompeo to return to North Korea for nuclear talks". USA Today. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  5. "FULL: Belfer Center and Korea Project Director's Lunch with Stephen Biegun". Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  6. Martin, Jonathan (November 7, 2008). "Palin allies: She's no diva". POLITICO. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  7. Nicolle Wallace (2018-03-01). "White House preparing for McMaster exit as early as next month". NBC News. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  8. "Mike Pompeo to travel to North Korea, names Stephen Biegun as new special representative". The Straits Times. August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  9. "PN1266 — Stephen E. Biegun — Department of State". U.S. Congress. December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  10. Axelrod, Tal (December 21, 2019). "North Korea envoy Stephen Biegun sworn in as Pompeo's No. 2 at State Dept". The Hill. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
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