C. Kevin Blackstone

Charles Kevin Blackstone is an American diplomat who currently serves as the United States Ambassador to East Timor.

C. Kevin Blackstone
United States Ambassador to East Timor
Incumbent
Assumed office January 6, 2021
President	Donald Trump Joe Biden
Preceded by	Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick
Personal details
Born	Charles Kevin Blackstone[1]
Nationality	American
Education	University of Virginia (B.A.) Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs (M.P.A.)

Early life and education

Blackstone earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and his Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.[2]

Career

Blackstone, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, has been a career member of the Foreign Service since 1991.[3] He was the Minister-Counselor for Management of the United States Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, and Management Counselor of the United States Embassies in Bangkok, Thailand and New Delhi, India. From 2009 to 2010, he was also the Team Leader of the United States Provincial Reconstruction Team in Wasit, Iraq. He served as the Executive Director of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State from 2017 to 2020.[2][3]

On May 28, 2020, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Blackstone to be the next United States Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. On June 2, 2020, his nomination was sent to the Senate.[4] He appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on December 2 and was confirmed by voice vote of the full Senate in the early morning hours of December 22, 2020.[5]

Recognition

Blackstone is the recipient of numerous State Department awards, including the Expeditionary Service Award.[2]

Personal life

Blackstone is married to Alexandra Blackstone. They are the parents of an adult son and daughter.[2]

See also

• List of ambassadors of the United States

References

1. Senate, United States Congress (2011). "Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America". Senate of the United States. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
2. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint the Following Individuals to Key Administration Posts" White House, May 28, 2020. Blackstone's nomination was submitted to the Senate on June 2, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. "Kevin Blackstone". United States Department of State. July 1, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
4. "Ten Nominations and One Withdrawal Sent to the Senate", The White House, June 2, 2020
5. "PN1938 — C. Kevin Blackstone — Department of State". U.S. Congress. Retrieved December 22, 2020.