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William R. Brownfield

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William Rivington Brownfield
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
In office
January 10, 2011 – September 30, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Donald Trump
DeputyLuis E. Arreaga
Alexander A. Arvizu
Preceded byDavid Johnson
Succeeded byKirsten D. Madison
United States Ambassador to Colombia
In office
September 12, 2007 – August 10, 2010
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded byWilliam Wood
Succeeded byMichael McKinley
United States Ambassador to Venezuela
In office
October 15, 2004 – September 5, 2007
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byCharles Shapiro
Succeeded byPatrick Duddy
United States Ambassador to Chile
In office
March 25, 2002 – July 19, 2004
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byPhilip Goldberg(Acting)
Succeeded byCraig Kelly
Personal details
Born1952 (age 71–72)
SpouseKristie Kenney
Alma materCornell University
University of Texas, Austin
National Defense University
William R. Brownfield's voice
William Brownfield speaks ondrug trafficking
Recorded November 17, 2015

William Rivington Brownfield(born 1952) is aCareer Ambassadorin theUnited States Foreign Serviceand the formerAssistant Secretary of Statefor theBureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairsas of January 10, 2011.[1]He has previously served as U.S. Ambassador toChile,Venezuela,andColombia.

Biography[edit]

A career Foreign Service Officer, William Brownfield wasUnited States Ambassador to Colombia.He arrived in Colombia on August 31, 2007, and was accredited by Colombian PresidentÁlvaro Uribeon September 12, 2007. On August 3, 2010, the United States confirmedPeter Michael McKinleyas the new ambassador to Colombia.

Prior to arriving in Colombia, Brownfield was Ambassador to Venezuela, and before thatChile.

Ambassador Brownfield's first assignment after joining theForeign Servicein 1979 was inMaracaibo, Venezuela.His other overseas postings include service as Counselor for Humanitarian Affairs inGeneva,and assignments inArgentinaandEl Salvador.He was temporarily assigned as Political Adviser to the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Southern Command inPanama1989–1990.

InWashington,Ambassador Brownfield's assignments have included Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere (WHA), Director for Policy in theBureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs,Executive Assistant in theBureau of Inter-American Affairs,Member of the Secretary's Policy Planning Staff, and Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs.

Ambassador Brownfield is a graduate ofSt. Andrew's School(1970),Cornell University(1974) and theNational War College(1993); he also attended theUniversity of Texas School of Law(1976–1978).

Chávez attacks[edit]

In a nationally televised speech on April 9, 2006,Venezuelan PresidentHugo Chávezthreatened to expel Brownfield for "provoking the Venezuelan people."[2]Chávez said "Start packing your bags, mister - if you keep on provoking us, start packing your bags, because I'll kick you out of here."[2]

On January 25, 2007, Brownfield was again threatened with expulsion by President Chávez. Chávez was responding to Brownfield's comments on the planned nationalization of several Venezuelan companies in which US companies are minority shareholders.[3]

Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs[edit]

Starting on January 10, 2011, Brownfield served asAssistant Secretary of Statefor theBureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.[1]In August 2017, he announced his intent to retire by the end of September. During his career, Brownfield received theSecretary's Distinguished Service Awardand was a three-time recipient of the Presidential Performance Award.[4]

Personal life[edit]

Brownfield is married to AmbassadorKristie Kenney,formerCounselor of the State Department.He speaksSpanishwith a pronouncedTexas accentandFrench.

References[edit]

  1. ^abUnited States Department of State
  2. ^ab"Chavez threatens to expel U.S. ambassador".MSNBC News Service Online.2006.
  3. ^"U.S. envoy says bags packed after Chavez threat".CNN.AP. January 26, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon January 29, 2007.
  4. ^Lynch, Colum (August 27, 2017)."Top State Department Officials Step Down in" Black Friday "Exodus".Foreign Policy.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toWilliam R. Brownfield.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Chile
2002–2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Venezuela
2004–2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Colombia
2007–2010 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
2011–2018 		Succeeded by
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