Mark Brzezinski

Early life and education

Brzezinski is the son of Emilie Benes Brzezinski and Polish-born former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, and the grandson of Polish diplomat Tadeusz Brzeziński. His mother is the grandniece of former Czechoslovak president Edvard Beneš. His sister is Mika Brzezinski, co-host of the morning talk show Morning Joe, and his brother is military expert Ian Brzezinski. He is also first cousin of author Matthew Brzezinski.

Brzezinski graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts in government, earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia Law School, and holds a Doctor of Philosophy in political science from Oxford University. He also earned a Fulbright Scholarship to study the Constitutional Tribunal of the Republic of Poland.

Career

Brzezinski was a corporate and securities associate at Hogan & Hartson LLP in Washington, D.C. from 1996-1999. From 1999-2001, Brzezinski served in the Clinton administration as a director of Russian/Eurasian affairs and director of Southeast European affairs of the National Security Council at the White House. In that capacity, he was White House coordinator for U.S. democracy and rule of law assistance programs for the region.

Brzezinski was a foreign policy advisor to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama, and was later appointed Ambassador to Sweden by Obama.

Ambassador to Poland

On May 26, 2021, The New York Times reported that President Joe Biden was considering nominating Brzezinski to be the United States Ambassador to Poland. Brzezinski was officially nominated on August 4. On August 9, 2021, his nomination was sent to the Senate. Hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on December 1, 2021. His nomination was favorably reported by the committee on December 15, 2021, and was confirmed by the Senate on December 18, 2021 by voice vote.

Brzezinski was sworn in as the United States Ambassador to Poland on January 19, 2022 by Vice President Kamala Harris. He presented his credentials to President Andrzej Duda on February 22, 2022.

Awards

In 2007 President of Poland Lech Kaczyński decorated him with Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. The order was awarded "for outstanding contributions to the development of Polish-American relations and for promoting a positive image of Poland in the world".

In 2018, he received the Order of the Polar Star, Commander 1st Class.

Personal life

He is currently divorced. His first wife was Carolyn M. Campbell, a lawyer. His second wife, from 2008 until 2022, was Natalia Brzezinski, née Lopatniuk.

References

References

1. (2021-08-04). "Biden taps Brzezinski son as Poland ambassador amid reported row".
2. reichardr. "Ambassador Mark Brzezinski".
3. (2 August 2018). "Mark Brzezinski Former United States Ambassador To Sweden". National Democratic Institute.
4. (15 September 2007). "The Talent Primary". Newsweek.com.
5. Pete Kasperowicz. (October 18, 2011). "Seven ambassadors confirmed by Senate". [[The Hill (newspaper).
6. (27 May 2021). "Biden is said to be planning to nominate Burns and Garcetti for ambassadorships". The New York Times.
7. (2021-08-04). "Biden nominates Mark Brzezinski as US ambassador to Poland".
8. (August 9, 2021). "Nominations Sent to the Senate". The White House.
9. (18 December 2021). "PN1004 — Mark Brzezinski — Department of State 117th Congress (2021-2022)".
10. (19 January 2022). "Vice President Harris Ceremonially Swears In Mark Brzezinski as Ambassador to Poland".
11. "Mark Brzezinski już w Polsce. To nowy ambasador Stanów Zjednoczonych".
12. (2022-02-22). "Ambassador Mark Brzezinski's Credentialing Ceremony".
13. "Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 14 marca 2007 r. o nadaniu orderów".
14. (2018-04-09). "Council of American Ambassadors".
15. Viva! (April 5, 2023), [https://viva.pl/ludzie/wywiady-vivy/mark-brzezinski-ambasador-stanow-zjednoczonych-w-polsce-kim-jest-jego-partnerka-olga-leonowicz-historia-milosci-143516-r1/ ''"We met for the first time after 20 years, we found that the chemistry is still ongoing." The love story of Mark Brzezinski and Olga Leonowicz'']. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
16. (December 22, 1991). "Carolyn M. Campbell Is to Marry Mark Brzezinski, a Fellow Lawyer". [[The New York Times]].
17. Steve Clemons (September 6, 2008), [https://washingtonnote.com/congratulations_2/ ''Congratulations Natalia Lopatniuk & Mark Brzezinski'']. Retrieved November 23, 2019.