Back to Officials
Name: Beryle, John
Current Position: Former Ambassador
A native of Muskegon, Michigan, John Beryle was nominated to be the U.S. Ambassador to Russia by President George W. Bush on May 13, 2008, and confirmed by the Senate on June 27, 2008. He was sworn in on July 2, 2008. Beyrle received a BA degree with honors from Grand Valley State University, and an MS degree as a Distinguished Graduate of the National War College, where he later taught as a Visiting Professor of National Security Studies. His foreign languages include Bulgarian, Czech, French, German and Russian.
A career officer in the Senior Foreign Service at the rank of Minister-Counselor, Beyrle has held policy positions and foreign assignments with an emphasis on US relations with Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and the USSR since joining the State Department in 1983. He served as a staff officer to Secretaries of State George Shultz and James Baker, and as a Pearson Fellow and foreign policy adviser to the late Senator Paul Simon.
Beyrle’s overseas service has included two previous tours at the US Embassy in Moscow, including as Deputy Chief of Mission. Other overseas assignments include Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in the Czech Republic, and member of the US Delegation to the CFE Negotiations in Vienna. Washington assignments include acting special adviser to the Secretary of State for the New Independent States, and Director for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council.
Prior to his posting to Russia, he served as ambassador to Bulgaria (2005-2008).
He is married to Jocelyn Greene, a fellow Foreign Service Officer.