John F. Tefft

Tefft was born in Madison, Wisconsin. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University and a Master of Arts in history from Georgetown University.{{cite news|date=July 10, 2014|title=Wisconsin native and savvy diplomat Tefft picked for Russia ambassador|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/appointee-to-russia-ambassadorship-has-strong-state-ties-b99307852z1-266689591.html|access-date=July 11, 2014}}

Tefft is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, with the personal rank of Minister-Counselor. He joined the United States Foreign Service in 1972 and has served in Jerusalem, Budapest, Rome, Moscow, Vilnius, Tbilisi, and Kyiv.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

Until his appointment as ambassador to Georgia, he was the deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs since July 6, 2004. Tefft also served as International Affairs Advisor (Deputy Commandant) of the National War College in Washington, D.C. From 2000 to 2003, he was the United States Ambassador to Lithuania. He served as deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow from 1996 to 1999 (when Pickering was ambassador), and was chargé d'affaires at the Embassy from November 1996 to September 1997.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} Tefft served as Director of the Office of Northern European Affairs from 1992 to 1994, Deputy Director of the Office of Soviet Union (later Russian and CIS) Affairs from 1989 to 1992, and Counselor for Political-Military Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Rome from 1986 to 1989.

His other foreign assignments included Budapest and Jerusalem, as well as service on the U.S. delegation to the START I arms control negotiations in 1985.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

On September 30, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Tefft as the ambassador to Ukraine.[http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/21227/ Ex- US ambassador to Georgia John Tefft to lead diplomatic mission in Ukraine], Interfax-Ukraine (September 30, 2009) He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 20, 2009.[http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/26712 New U.S. ambassador Tefft arrives in Kyiv], Interfax-Ukraine (December 2, 2009)

Tefft arrived in Ukraine on December 2, 2009, and President Viktor Yushchenko accepted Tefft's credentials of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on December 7, 2009.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} The ambassador expressed his hope for fruitful cooperation. Tefft delivered his speech in Ukrainian.[http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-350756.html Yushchenko accepted credentials of US Ambassador and Ambassador of Turkey to Ukraine], UNIAN (December 7, 2009).

On February 26, 2013, President Obama nominated Geoffrey R. Pyatt to succeed Tefft as Ambassador of the United States to Ukraine.{{cite web|last=Office of the Press Secretary|title=President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/26/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts|access-date=September 10, 2013|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|date=February 26, 2013}} Pyatt was sworn in on July 30, 2013, and arrived in Ukraine on August 3, 2013.[http://www.interfax.co.uk/ukraine-news/yanukovych-accepts-credentials-from-new-us-ambassador-discusses-with-him-ukrainian-us-relations/ Yanukovych accepts credentials from new US ambassador, discusses with him Ukrainian-US relations], Interfax-Ukraine (August 15, 2013)

In July 2014, President Obama nominated Tefft as the United States Ambassador to Russia in Moscow, after receiving Russia's approval.{{cite news|title=Obama's new man in Moscow is former ambassador to Crimea|url=http://www.moscownews.net/index.php/sid/223727239/scat/723971d98160d438/ht/Obamas-new-man-in-Moscow-is-former-ambassador-to-Crimea|access-date=July 11, 2014|publisher=Moscow News.Net}}

The Senate confirmed Tefft in a voice vote on July 31, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.periodicalpress.senate.gov/ |title=SENATE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS |date=June 28, 2018 |website=www.periodicalpress.senate.gov}} The confirmation followed several attempts as a number of ambassadorial appointments were being held up at the time. Strained relations with Russia over pro-separatist activity in eastern Ukraine, the country's annexation of Crimea, and the alleged shooting down of a commercial airliner, prompted senators to finally approve the nomination. He presented his credentials to President Vladimir Putin on November 19, 2014,{{cite web|url=http://moscow.usembassy.gov/amb-tefft-11192014.html|title=Ambassador Tefft Presents Predentials to President Putin|publisher=Embassy of the United States, Moscow|access-date=November 25, 2014|url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121225525/http://moscow.usembassy.gov/amb-tefft-11192014.html|archive-date=November 21, 2014}} and left the position on September 28, 2017.{{cite news|title=Американский посол Теффт улетел из Москвы до назначения преемника|url=http://www.interfax.ru/russia/580955|access-date=September 28, 2017|publisher=Interfax|language=ru}}

In 2016, the Russian governor of the Samara Oblast, Nikolay Merkushkin, advised AvtoVAZagregat employees for help in paying wages and appeals to US Ambassador John Tefft.[https://forum-msk.org/material/news/12160379.html Samara Governor Merkushkin advised AvtoVAZ employees to ask the US ambassador for a salary][https://life.ru/t/%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8/894444/poiavilas_zapis_ughroz_ghubiernatora_mierkushkina_lishit_avtovazaghrieghat_zarplaty There was a record of threats by the governor Merkushkin to deprive AvtoVAZagregat salaries]

File:US DOS Distinguished Honor Award.svg

Tefft has received a number of awards, including the State Department Distinguished Honor Award in 1992 and the DCM of the Year Award for his service in Moscow in 1999. He received Presidential Meritorious Service Awards in 2001 and 2005.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

{{Portal|United States|Politics}}

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{{commons category|John F. Tefft}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050724110729/http://wwwc.house.gov/international_relations/108/tef120704.htm Tefft's testimony on Ukraine, Dec 2004]
• [http://www.brama.com/news/press/2004/07/040716mw_actionukrainecoalition.html Bio and photo]
• {{C-SPAN|1013066}}

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Category:1949 births

Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Georgia (country)

Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Lithuania

Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Russia

Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Ukraine

Category:Georgetown University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Marquette University alumni

Category:Recipients of St. George's Order of Victory

Category:People from Madison, Wisconsin

Category:United States Foreign Service personnel

Category:21st-century American diplomats