John Beyrle

John Beyrle
United States Ambassador to Russia
In office
July 2, 2008 – January 10, 2012
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded byWilliam J. Burns
Succeeded byMichael McFaul
United States Ambassador to Bulgaria
In office
July 9, 2005 – April 28, 2008
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byJames W. Pardew
Succeeded byNancy McEldowney
Personal details
Born
John Ross Beyrle

(1954-02-11) February 11, 1954 (age 70)
Muskegon, Michigan, U.S.
ProfessionDiplomat

John Ross Beyrle (born February 11, 1954) is an American diplomat. A career Foreign Service Officer and specialist in Russian and Eastern European affairs, he served as Ambassador of the United States to the Russian Federation from July 3, 2008, until January 10, 2012, and as Ambassador to Bulgaria from 2005 to 2008.

Beyrle was Ambassador in Moscow during the "reset" of Russian-American relationship, which saw the signing of the New START arms control treaty, agreement on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization, and liberalized visa formalities for American and Russian travelers.

He retired from the State Department in July 2012 with the rank of Career Minister, the diplomatic equivalent of a three-star general. He serves on the Board of Directors of several non-profit foundations, including as Chairman of the U.S. Russia Foundation, and as an adviser and business consultant on Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and other countries of the former Soviet Union.