Michael C. Polt
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Michael Christian Polt served as United States ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro from 2004 to 2006; continuing as ambassador to Serbia until 2007. He was succeeded by Cameron Munter.
Polt was born in Austria, and now calls Tennessee his home. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.
During his nearly three decades as a career diplomat, Mr. Polt served as U.S. Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany and Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge’ d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland. He has also served as Senior Advisor to the Director General of the Foreign Service for Management Reform and was a key member of the Senior Management Steering Board directing the State Department’s 2003-2005 multi-million dollar reinvention of its Diplomatic Communications System.
Ambassador Polt has held other senior positions in the Department of State as Deputy Director for European Security and Arms Control Issues, and in Panama City as Political Counselor of the U.S. Embassy during the time leading up to the U.S. military action against the Noriega regime in 1989. During his earlier career, Mr. Polt was assigned to Embassies in Bonn, Mexico City, and Copenhagen, as well as the U.S. Consulate in Bremen, Germany.
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service of the United States, rank of Minister-Counselor, Ambassador Polt served as Secretary of State Colin Powell’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs prior to being sworn in as United States Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro on May 13, 2004. Following Montenegro's secession from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, Ambassador Polt became the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia. Like his predecessor William Montgomery[1], during his term he was described in Serbia as "Governor of Serbia"[2].
Polt lives in suburban Virginia when on assignment in Washington, D.C. His wife, Hallie, is an Information Management Specialist with the Department of State. The family has two children, Nicholas (26) and Lindsay (21). The Polts like to ski and sail.
The Ambassador is the recipient of the Presidential Meritorious Service Award and numerous Department of State Meritorious and Superior Honor Awards for Outstanding Policy Leadership, Management, Crisis Performance, and Political Analysis. He has been awarded the Thomas Jefferson Award for Service to U.S. Citizens Overseas by American Citizens Abroad.
[edit] External links
- United States Department of State: Biography of Michael C. Polt
- United States Embassy in Belgrade: Biography of the ambassador
[edit] References
- ^ Apostolovski, Aleksandar. "Nisam menjao srpske vlade (1)", B92, 2005-02-14. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
- ^ J. J.. "Polte, odlazi!", Kurir, 2007-06-28. Retrieved on 2007-09-07. (Serbian) "- On se već pola godine ponaša kao guverner Srbije, ide po obdaništima, školama, raznim institucijama i priča o nezavisnom Kosovu."
