| Alexander Vershbow | |
|---|---|
Alexander Vershbow in 2005 |
|
| Born | July 3, 1952 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Alexander Russell "Sandy" Vershbow |
| Occupation | Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs |
Alexander Russell "Sandy" Vershbow (born July 3, 1952) is an American Assistant Secretary of Defense and diplomat.[1]
Until October 2008, he was the United States Ambassador to South Korea; he was appointed to the position in October 2005. Before that post he had been the ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2001 to 2005[2] and the ambassador to NATO from 1998 to 2001. For his work with NATO he was awarded the State Department's Distinguished Service Award.
In March, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Vershbow as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, a position that holds responsibility for U.S. policy toward NATO, coordination of U.S. security and defense policies relating to the nations and international organizations of Europe, the Middle East and Africa.[3] He was confirmed in April, 2009.[4]
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Vershbow was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended the Buckingham Browne & Nichols School before moving on to Yale College, from which he graduated in 1974[5] in Russian and East European Studies. He earned an MA at Columbia University in 1976 in International Relations and Certificate of the Russian Institute.[6]
Vershbow was Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council (1994–97). He was the first recipient of the Department of Defense’s Joseph J. Kruzel Award for his contributions to peace in the former Yugoslavia (1997).
Early in his tenure as ambassador to South Korea he generated controversy by continuing the hard line on North Korea begun by his predecessor Christopher Hill. He pressed North Korea on the issues of human rights and superdollars, calling the government a "criminal regime",[7] and called on them to return to the Six-Party Talks.[8] The South Korean government has asked him to tone down his rhetoric, in accordance with their Sunshine Policy, and one lawmaker even tried to have him expelled from the country.[9][10] In January 2006 his attempt to meet with the Korea Internet Journalists' Association, which describes itself as 'progressive', was blocked by protestors from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.[11]
Together with Christopher Hill, who is the assistant secretary of State, Vershbow has also pioneered a strategy of speaking directly to the Korean people through the internet and by actually appearing and speaking at street rallies.[12]
Vershbow spoke out in favour of the expansion of the US base at Pyeongtaek. Local people demonstrated in great numbers against this expansion, although Vershbow claims that they are "out of step" with the sentiments of most residents of the area.
Vershbow is one of five ASD's serving under Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy in a July, 2010, organization chart, with the other four being Wallace Gregson, Paul Stockton, Michael Nacht and Michael Vickers.[13]
Vershbow was leading sessions for the chief of staff of Egypt’s armed forces, Lt. Gen. Sami Hafez Enan, and a delegation in Washington in January, 2011, when the visit was truncated due to concurrent Egyptian protests.[14]
Vershbow's wife, Lisa, is a prominent designer of contemporary jewelry.[6]
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Franklin Collins |
Ambassador of United States to Russia 2001—2005 |
Succeeded by William Joseph Burns |
| Preceded by Christopher R. Hill |
Ambassador of United States to South Korea 2005—2008 |
Succeeded by Kathleen Stephens |