Matthew Klimow

Klimow earned his Bachelor of Science at the United States Military Academy and a Master of Arts from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, as well as a Masters of Military Art and Science at the United States Army Command and General Staff College.[3]

From 2012–2015, Klimow served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels, Belgium. From 2018–2019, he served as Senior Advisor in the Office of the Under Secretary for Management at the United States Department of State.[3] He served as Senior Advisor in the Bureau of the Director General and Human Resources and in the Office of Overseas Employment from 2015–2018. He also served as the Executive Director of the Bureau of Administration and Bureau of Information Resource Management from 2010–2012 and as Director of Language Services from 2008–2010, and Executive Director of the Bureau of Consular Affairs from 2003–2008 at the State Department[4]

On March 18, 2019, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Klimow as the next United States Ambassador to Turkmenistan. On March 26, 2019, his nomination was sent to the United States Senate.[5] On May 23, 2019, his nomination was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote.[6][7] He was sworn in on June 13, 2019 and presented his credentials to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow in Ashgabat on June 26, 2019.[8]

Kimlow served as a United States Army officer from 1974–2003, retiring with the rank of Colonel. His military assignments included from 2002–2003, serving as a Special Advisor to the Vice President of the United States and Executive Assistant to the Chairman from 2001–2002 and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2001–2000. He also served as a Combat Task Force Operations Officer during Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait from 1990–1991,[3] for which he was awarded the Silver Star Medal.[2][9] Other assignments include Brigade Commander in the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina from 1998–2000, Military Advisor to the Secretary of State and Special Assistant, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1995–1998 and Visiting Defense Fellow at the Center for International Relations, Queen's University, Canada from 1994–1995.[4]

Klimow speaks French.[3] He is married to retired Major Edie Gunnels and they have a son.[9]

• List of ambassadors of the United States