William Brownfield
| William Brownfield | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| United States Ambassador to Chile | |
| In office 25 March 2002 – 19 July 2004 |
|
| Preceded by | John O'Leary |
| Succeeded by | Craig A. Kelly |
| United States Ambassador to Venezuela | |
| In office 2004–2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Charles S. Shapiro |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Duddy |
| United States Ambassador to Colombia | |
| In office 12 September 2007 – 5 August 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | William Braucher Wood |
| Succeeded by | P. Michael McKinley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1952 |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse(s) | Kristie Kenney |
William R. Brownfield (born 1952) is the current Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs as of January 10, 2011.[1] He has previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Chile, Venezuela, and Colombia.
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Biography [edit]
A career Foreign Service Officer, William Brownfield was United States Ambassador to Colombia. He arrived in Colombia on August 31, 2007 and was accredited by Colombian President Álvaro Uribe on September 12, 2007. On August 3, 2010, the United States confirmed Peter Michael McKinley as the new ambassador to Colombia.
Prior to arriving in Colombia, Brownfield was Ambassador to Venezuela, and before that Chile.
Ambassador Brownfield's first assignment after joining the Foreign Service in 1979 was in Maracaibo, Venezuela. His other overseas postings include service as Counselor for Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva, and assignments in Argentina and El Salvador. He was temporarily assigned as Political Adviser to the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Southern Command in Panama 1989-1990.
In Washington, Ambassador Brownfield's assignments have included Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere (WHA), Director for Policy in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Executive Assistant in the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs, Member of the Secretary's Policy Planning Staff, and Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs.
Ambassador Brownfield is a graduate of St. Andrew's School (1970), Cornell University (1974) and the National War College (1993); he also attended the University of Texas School of Law (1976–1978).
Chávez attacks [edit]
In a nationally-televised speech on April 9, 2006, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez threatened to expel Brownfield for “provoking the Venezuelan people.”[2] Chávez said “Start packing your bags, mister - if you keep on provoking us, start packing your bags, because I’ll kick you out of here.”[2]
On 25 January 2007, Brownfield was again threatened with expulsion by President Chávez. Chávez was responding to Brownfield's comments on the planned nationalization of several Venezuelan companies in which US companies are minority shareholders.[3]
Personal life [edit]
Brownfield is married to Kristie Kenney, the United States Ambassador to Thailand. He speaks Spanish with a pronounced Texas accent, and French adequately. Despite his long residence outside Texas, and the fact that he was not born in Texas, he considers himself a Texas native.[citation needed]
References [edit]
External links [edit]
- State Department Biography page (Assistant Secretary)
- State Department Biography page (Venezuela)
- State Department Biography page (Chile)
- Interview with William Brownfield
- U.S. Embassy in Bogotá: Ambassador Brownfield
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John O'Leary |
United States Ambassador to Chile 25 March 2002–19 July 2004 |
Succeeded by Craig A. Kelly |
| Preceded by Charles S. Shapiro |
United States Ambassador to Venezuela 2004–2007 |
Succeeded by Patrick Duddy |
| Preceded by William Braucher Wood |
United States Ambassador to Colombia 2007–2010 |
Succeeded by P. Michael McKinley |
