US Embassy Tbilisi, Georgia - State Magazine, June 2009On June 19, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate John R. Bass to be Ambassador to Georgia. Official bio released by the WH below:
John Bass has led the Provincial Reconstruction Team-Baghdad, a joint team of civilians and military personnel supporting the government and citizens of Baghdad province, since July 2008.
Prior to serving in Iraq, Mr. Bass served as Director of the State Department Operations Center for three years, coordinating the State Department’s response to crises threatening American embassies, personnel and citizens. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Mr. Bass also has served in Italy, Belgium and Chad. In Washington, his assignments include a detail to the Office of the Vice President as Special Advisor for Europe and Eurasia, Chief of Staff to Deputy Secretary Strobe Talbott and special assistant to the Deputy Secretary for Europe and Eurasia. Other assignments at the State Department include work on Turkey, Cyprus, NATO-Russia relations and conventional arms reductions in Europe.
Mr. Bass joined the Foreign Service in 1988. Born and raised in upstate New York, Mr. Bass holds a B.A. from Syracuse University.
If confirmed, Mr. Bass would succeed John F. Tefft, a career diplomat who was appointed US Ambassador to Tbilisi in 2005. Embassy Tbilisi was established on April 23, 1992, with Carey Cavanaugh as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. No political appointee has yet succeeded in getting appointed as US Ambassador to Tbilisi.
Related Item:
President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 6-19-09
