Stephen Akard

Stephen Akard
Inspector General of the Department of State
Acting
In office May 15, 2020 – August 7, 2020
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Steve Linick
Succeeded by	Diana Shaw(acting)
Director of theOffice of Foreign Missions
In office September 16, 2019 – August 7, 2020
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Cliff Seagroves(acting)
Succeeded by	Cliff Seagroves(acting)
Personal details
Born	Stephen James Akard 1964 (age 59–60) Indianapolis,Indiana,U.S.
Education	Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis(BA,JD,MBA)

Stephen James Akard(born 1964) is a former American diplomat who was the United States director of theOffice of Foreign Missions,a division of theDepartment of State,and beginning in May 2020 also the acting inspector general of the department after President Donald Trump fired his predecessor,Steve Linick.Akard resigned less than three months later to return to the private sector, according to a department spokeswoman.

Early life and education

Akard is a native ofIndianapolis,Indiana.He earned a bachelor's degree in economics and French fromIndiana University–Purdue University Indianapolisand aJuris Doctorfrom the Indiana UniversityMcKinney School of Law.He received aMaster of Business Administrationfrom the Indiana UniversityKelley School of Business.

Career

After graduating from law school, Akard practiced law in Indianapolis and was an instructor at theIndiana University Maurer School of LawinBloomington.He also worked as a law clerk forJames E. Nolandon theU.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

Under theGeorge W. Bushadministration, he served as special assistant toSecretary of StateColin Powellin theExecutive Secretariat,as well as in assorted officer roles at multipleUnited States embassiesbetween 1997 and 2005.

He served as the senior foreign affairs advisor to Indiana governorsMitch Daniels,Mike Pence,andEric Holcomb.Akard served as the chief of staff, vice president and general counsel, and director for theIndiana Economic Development Corporation.

Beginning January 2017, he served as senior advisor and acting chief of staff in the Office of theUnder Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.

In October 2017, he was nominated to serve asDirector General of the Foreign Service.In March 2018, he withdrew his nomination after State Department officials and lawmakers raised objections that the role should be filled by a more experienced career diplomat and someone less politically connected to the Trump administration.

Akard was confirmed by a vote of 90–2 as the director of theOffice of Foreign Missionson September 11, 2019 under PresidentDonald Trumpand began service in his role on September 16.

After the firing of incumbentinspector general of the Department of StateSteve Linickin May 2020, PresidentDonald Trumpannounced that Akard would be named as his successor.On August 5, 2020, less than three months after he assumed the IG role, Akard resigned, leaving Deputy Inspector GeneralDiana Shawserving in an acting position as Inspector General.