Officially Moved: William J. Burns to be State's Deputy Secretary

                          Image via WikipediaOn May 11, 2011, President Obama announced his intent to nominate William J. Burns to be the State Department's next Deputy Secretary. Read our previous post on this  -- William J. Burns -- to Move Up as Deputy Secretary of State | March 30, 2011. The WH released the following brief bio:

William J. Burns currently serves as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and holds the highest rank in the Foreign Service, Career Ambassador.   Prior to this appointment, Ambassador Burns served as U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008; Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from 2001 to 2005; and U.S. Ambassador to Jordan from 1998 to 2001. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1982,  Ambassador Burns has served in a number of other capacities both in Washington and abroad including:  Executive Secretary and Special Assistant to Secretaries Christopher and Albright; Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow; Acting Director and Principal Deputy Director of the Department's Policy Planning Staff; and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council. 

Ambassador Burns earned a B.A. in History from LaSalle University and a M.Phil and D.Phil. in International Relations from Oxford University, where he studied as a Marshall Scholar.

Related item:President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 5/11/2011

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