R. Nicholas Burns

American diplomat and academic

Robert Nicholas Burns (born January 28, 1956) is an American diplomat and academic. He is the 13th United States Ambassador to China since 2022. Burns was a professor of diplomacy and international politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Nick Burns
13th United States Ambassador to China
Assumed office
April 1, 2022
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byTerry Branstad
Succeeded byDavid Perdue (nominee)
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
In office
March 18, 2005 – February 29, 2008
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byMarc Grossman
Succeeded byWilliam J. Burns
United States Ambassador to NATO
In office
August 7, 2001 – March 7, 2005
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded bySandy Vershbow
Succeeded byVictoria Nuland
United States Ambassador to Greece
In office
December 22, 1997 – July 29, 2001
PresidentBill Clinton
George W. Bush
Preceded byThomas Niles
Succeeded byThomas Miller
Spokesperson for the United States Department of State
In office
1995–1997
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded byMike McCurry
Succeeded byJames Rubin
Personal details
Born (1956-01-28) January 28, 1956 (age 68)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Baylies
Children3
EducationBoston College (BA)
Johns Hopkins University (MA)

He writes a bi-weekly column on foreign affairs for The Boston Globe.[1]

He was United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs within the United States Department of State during the George W. Bush presidency.

President Joe Biden nominated Burns to be Ambassador to China in August 2021.[2] He was confirmed by the entire Senate on December 16, 2021 by a vote of 75-18.[3]

References

change
  1. "Board of Directors". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  2. Karni, Annie (August 20, 2021). "Biden Nominates Burns and Emanuel to Be His Ambassadors to China and Japan" – via NYTimes.com.
  3. "On the Nomination (Confirmation: R. Nicholas Burns, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador to the People's Republic of China)". US Senate. Retrieved 20 December 2021.