Kristen Silverberg (born 1970)[1] was the United States Ambassador to the European Union from July 2008 until January 2009. She was nominated by President George W. Bush on April 24, 2008, and confirmed by the United States Senate on June 27, 2008. On July 22, 2008, she presented her credentials.[2] She was succeeded by William Kennard who was nominated by President Barack Obama on August 6, 2009, and confirmed by the United States Senate on November 20, 2009.

Kristen Silverberg
United States Ambassador to the European Union
In office
July 22, 2008 – January 18, 2009
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byC. Boyden Gray
Succeeded byWilliam Kennard
23rd Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
In office
August 16, 2005 – June 27, 2008
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byKim Holmes
Succeeded byBrian H. Hook
Personal details
Born1970 (age 53–54)
Alpine, Texas, U.S.
EducationHarvard University (BA)
University of Texas at Austin (JD)

Career

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Silverberg was previously Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs for the United States government. In that role, she was in charge of the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, a part of the State Department.[3]

Prior to her appointment to the State Department, Silverberg served in the following positions in the White House:

  • Special Assistant to the President in the Office of the Chief of Staff
  • Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy
  • Deputy Assistant to the President and Advisor to the Chief of Staff [4]

Silverberg also served as Senior Adviser to Paul Bremer when he was Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq—reportedly "because she was interested in the work, and not at the behest of the White House."[5] She has been described as a "rising star"[6] in the White House, and as "one of the White House's most trusted behind-the-scenes aides."[5]

Prior to coming to work for the White House, Silverberg served as a law clerk, first to Appellate Court Judge David B. Sentelle, and later to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

She currently sits on the advisory board for Washington, DC nonprofit America Abroad Media.[7]

Personal life

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Silverberg was born in 1970 in Alpine, Texas[8] to Rhoda and Eric Silverberg.[9] Silverberg is a graduate of Harvard University and The University of Texas School of Law (1996). She wrote an article (PDF) in 2002 encouraging fellow alumni to seek legal careers in government.

On May 24, 2008, she married Paul V. Lettow at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas; Lettow is the son of Charles F. Lettow,[9] who since July 2003 has been a judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kristen Silverberg – People – Department History – Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  2. ^ "Kristen Silverberg". State.gov. October 2008. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  3. ^ "Kristen Silverberg, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Department of State". 2002-2009-fpc.state.gov. Archived from the original on September 30, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  4. ^ Biography of Kristen Silverberg from the White House website
  5. ^ a b Bush Concerned by Iraq Looting, but Confident in Plan[dead link] from The Washington Post
  6. ^ Iraq Hits a Flashing Red Light from The Washington Post
  7. ^ "Kristen Silverberg | AMERICA ABROAD MEDIA". Archived from the original on July 16, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  8. ^ U.S. Ambassador to the EU Kristen Silverberg[permanent dead link] from the website of the U.S. Mission to the European Union
  9. ^ a b Kristen Silverberg, Paul Lettow, a May 2008 wedding announcement from The New York Times
  10. ^ Biography of Charles F. Lettow Archived July 11, 2013, at the Wayback Machine from the website of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims
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Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to the European Union
2008–2009
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Assistant Secretary of State
for International Organization Affairs

2005–2008
Succeeded by