Jon Purnell

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Jon Robert Purnell is a former United States Ambassador to Uzbekistan.

Ambassador Purnell is a native of Norwood, Massachusetts. He graduated from Norwood High School in 1966. He continued his education at Brown University, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in European History in 1970. He earned a Master’s degree in Soviet Studies at Harvard University in 1973.

Purnell worked for the Massachusetts Audubon Society as a specialist in environmental education. He maintains a strong interest in environmental issues.

He worked in Monrovia, Liberia from 1980 to 1981 and in Vienna, Austria from 1988 to 1989 as a member of the U.S. conventional arms control delegation.

Purnell's assignments in Washington have focused on Russia and Ukraine. He first worked in Moscow from 1982-1984. He worked as special assistant to Ambassador Jack F. Matlock, Jr. on the National Security Council in 1986.

From 1989-1992 he served as Deputy Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General at St. Petersburg, Russia.

From 1993-1996, he was the Director of the State Department's Office of Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova.

Purnell’s overseas postings have included Almaty, Kazakhstan, where he was Deputy Chief of Mission from 1997-2000. He served as Deputy to the Secretary’s Acting Special Adviser for the Newly Independent States.

Between 2001-2002, he served as a Senior Inspector in the State Department’s Office of the Inspector General. He was Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

Jon Purnell presented his credentials as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Uzbekistan on January 28, 2004. He departed post April 28, 2007.

Purnell has received the Department of State’s Superior Honor Award and Meritorious Honor Award. He has three children.