Robert Finn (ambassador)

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Robert Finn
Robert Finn

Robert Patrick John Finn (born December 19, 1945) was the first United States ambassador to Afghanistan in more than 20 years, from March 22, 2002 until November 27, 2003. He was succeeded by Zalmay Khalilzad.

Finn earned a B.A. in American Literature and European History with honors from St. John's University, an M.A. in Near Eastern Studies from New York University and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University in 1978. He currently holds a professorship there in Turkic studies and international relations. Finn was a member of the Foreign Service from 1978 to 8/2005. In 1992, he opened (as charge d'affaires) the United States embassy to Azerbaijan and served as charge and deputy chief of mission there for three years. He also served as the U.S. ambassador to Tajikistan from 1998 through 2001. He has also served in Turkey, Croatia and Pakistan.

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
First Ambassador
United States Ambassador to Azerbaijan
(Charge d'affaires ad interim)

1992
Succeeded by
Richard Miles
Preceded by
R. Grant Smith
United States Ambassador to Tajikistan
1998–2001
Succeeded by
Franklin Huddle
Preceded by
Adolph Dubs
(Assassinated in 1979)

Ryan C. Crocker
(Charge d'affaires)
United States Ambassador to Afghanistan
2002–2003
Succeeded by
Zalmay Khalilzad