John J. Sullivan (diplomat)

For other people named John Sullivan, see John Sullivan (disambiguation).

John J. Sullivan
Official portrait, 2017
10th United States Ambassador to Russia
In office
February 5, 2020 – September 4, 2022
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded byJon Huntsman Jr.
Succeeded byLynne Tracy
19th United States Deputy Secretary of State
In office
May 24, 2017 – December 20, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byAntony Blinken
Succeeded byStephen Biegun
United States Secretary of State
Acting
In office
April 1, 2018 – April 26, 2018[a]
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byRex Tillerson
Succeeded byMike Pompeo
14th United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce
In office
March 14, 2008 – January 20, 2009
Acting: September 1, 2007 – March 14, 2008
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byDavid A. Sampson
Succeeded byDennis Hightower
General Counsel of the United States Department of Commerce
In office
July 22, 2005 – March 14, 2008
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byTheodore Kassinger
Succeeded byLily Fu Claffee
Personal details
Born
John Joseph Sullivan

(1959-11-20) November 20, 1959 (age 64)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseGrace Rodriguez (deceased)
Children3
EducationBrown University (BA)
Columbia University (JD)

John Joseph Sullivan (born November 20, 1959) is an American attorney and government official who served as the United States Ambassador to Russia from 2020 to 2022, and who previously served as the 19th United States Deputy Secretary of State from 2017 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Sullivan served as Acting United States Secretary of State from April 1, 2018, to April 26, 2018, following President Donald Trump's dismissal of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on March 13, 2018,[1] until Tillerson's official successor, Mike Pompeo, was sworn in.[2] Tillerson did not officially leave office until March 31, 2018. Sullivan, however, was delegated all responsibilities of the Secretary of State beginning March 13.[3][4]

On October 11, 2019, President Trump nominated Sullivan to be the United States Ambassador to Russia.[5] On December 12, 2019, the United States Senate confirmed his nomination by a 70–22 vote.[6]

Sullivan remained Ambassador to Russia during the presidential transition of Joe Biden. On September 4, 2022, Sullivan left Moscow and stated he would retire.[7] The U.S. deputy chief of mission in Russia, Elizabeth Rood, replaced Sullivan as the top U.S. diplomat in Moscow until a permanent successor was named.[8] The White House on September 20 announced the nomination of Lynne Tracy, former U.S. ambassador to Armenia, to the post.[9]


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  1. ^ Vitali, Ali; Mitchell, Andrea (March 13, 2018). "Trump fires Rex Tillerson, selects Mike Pompeo as new Secretary of State". NBC News. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  2. ^ Fox, Lauren; Walsh, Deirdre; Koran, Laura (April 26, 2018). "Mike Pompeo sworn in as Trump's second secretary of state". CNN. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  3. ^ Merica, Dan. "Trump fires Tillerson, taps Pompeo as next secretary of state". CNNPolitics. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  4. ^ "Deputy Secretary of State". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  5. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved October 15, 2019 – via National Archives.
  6. ^ "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 116th Congress - 1st Session". www.senate.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  7. ^ Wong, Edward (September 4, 2022). "John Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, leaves Moscow to retire". The New York Times. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  8. ^ Lee, Matthew (September 4, 2022). "US ambassador to Russia leaves post as Ukraine war drags on". Associated Press. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  9. ^ "Biden Formally Nominates Veteran Diplomat To Serve As U.S. Ambassador To Russia". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved September 21, 2022.