Stephen Biegun

Stephen Edward Biegun[1] (born March 30, 1963) is an American businessman and diplomat who has served as the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State since December 2019. Biegun was previously the United States Special Representative for North Korea,[2] vice president of international governmental affairs for the Ford Motor Company,[3] he was a staffer on the National Security Council as well as national security adviser to Senator Bill Frist.[4]

Steve Biegun
20th United States Deputy Secretary of State
Assumed office
December 21, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJohn Sullivan
United States Special Representative for North Korea
In office
August 23, 2018 – December 21, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJoseph Yun (North Korea Policy)
Succeeded byVacant
Personal details
Born
Stephen Edward Biegun

(1963-03-30) March 30, 1963
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BA)

Education

Biegun received his B.A. in Russian and political science from the University of Michigan in 1984.

Career

He was the in-country director for the International Republican Institute in Moscow, Russia, from 1992 to 1994. He is a member of the board of the U.S. Russia Foundation, the Moscow School of Political Studies, the U.S.–Russia Business Council and Ford Sollers, Ford's joint venture operation in Russia.

Biegun has held a number of offices within the federal government, including executive secretary of the National Security Council, reporting to national security adviser Condoleezza Rice under President George W. Bush. He was a foreign policy adviser to Sarah Palin during John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.[5] On March 1, 2018, it was reported that Biegun was a top candidate to replace Donald Trump's national security adviser H. R. McMaster.[6] On March 22, it was announced that McMaster would instead be succeeded by John R. Bolton.

On August 23, 2018, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appointed Biegun as the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, directing U.S. policy in regard to North Korea on behalf of the Trump administration.[7]

On August 7, 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported that Biegun was a top candidate to replace Jon Huntsman Jr. as United States Ambassador to Russia. After John Sullivan was instead nominated to be Ambassador to Russia, Biegun was in turn nominated to replace him as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State on October 31, 2019. His nomination was confirmed by a 90–3 vote of the U.S. Senate on December 19, 2019.[8] He was sworn in two days later.[9]

References
  1. Annual Report 2010. Council on Foreign Relations. 2010. ISBN 9780876094952. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  2. Harris, Gardiner (August 23, 2018). "Pompeo Will Return to North Korea Next Week With Reinforcement". New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  3. "Stephen E. Biegun". Ford Motor Company. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  4. Shesgreen, Deirdre (August 23, 2018). "Secretary of State Pompeo to return to North Korea for nuclear talks". USA Today. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  5. Martin, Jonathan (November 7, 2008). "Palin allies: She's no diva". POLITICO. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  6. Nicolle Wallace (2018-03-01). "White House preparing for McMaster exit as early as next month". NBC News. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  7. "Mike Pompeo to travel to North Korea, names Stephen Biegun as new special representative". The Straits Times. August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  8. "PN1266 — Stephen E. Biegun — Department of State". U.S. Congress. December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  9. Axelrod, Tal (December 21, 2019). "North Korea envoy Stephen Biegun sworn in as Pompeo's No. 2 at State Dept". The Hill. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Joseph Yun
as Special Representative for North Korea Policy		 United States Special Representative for North Korea
2018–2019		 Vacant
Political offices
Preceded by
John Sullivan		 United States Deputy Secretary of State
2019–present		 Incumbent
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