Herbst
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Ambassador John Herbst
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Ambassador Herbst brings over 30 years of career experience in the Foreign Service at the Department of State where he holds the rank of Career Minister. He spent four years as Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) at the U.S. Department of State.
He was instrumental in the launch of the Civilian Response Corps. The Corps, which is now over 1,000 members strong, boasts representatives from an unprecedented number of civilian U.S. government agencies. Ambassador Herbst helped to create the International Stabilization and Peacebuilding Initiative (ISPI) with 14 bilateral and five multilateral partners focused on improving the effectiveness of stabilization and peacebuidling operations through enhancing civilian capability globally.
While at S/CRS, Mr. Herbst led an organization that provided support for over 20 U.S. Embassies around the world in planning and coordination of conflict prevention and stabilization efforts. He championed the importance of lessons learned and best practices studies on stability operations.
Ambassador Herbst assumed the role of U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine in May 2003. While serving the embassy, he worked to enhance U.S-Ukrainian relations and to help ensure the implementation of a fair Ukrainian presidential election. He was witness to the Orange Revolution while in Kyiv. Prior to that, Ambassador Herbst was the U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan, where he played a critical role in the establishment of an American base to help conduct Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He also promoted improved U.S.-Uzbek relations, in part by encouraging the government in Tashkent to improve its human rights record.
Ambassador Herbst has previously served as U.S. Consul General in Jerusalem; Principal Deputy to the Ambassador at Large for the Newly Independent States; and the Director of the Office of Independent States and Commonwealth Affairs. He has been presented with both the Presidential Distinguished Service Award and the State Department's Distinguished Honor Award.