Brigety, Reuben E. (Reuben Earl), 1973-

<p>Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety II most recently served as the appointed Representative of the United States of America to the African Union and Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN Economic Commission for Africa on September 3, 2013. Prior to this appointment, Ambassador Brigety served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of African Affairs from November 14, 2011 until September 3, 2013 with responsibility for Southern African and Regional Security Affairs.</p>

<p>From December 2009 to November 2011, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. In this capacity, he supervised U.S. refugee programs in Africa, managed U.S. humanitarian diplomacy with major international partners, and oversaw the development of international migration policy.</p>

<p>A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Ambassador Brigety previously served as Director of the Sustainable Security Program at the Center for American Progress from January 2008 to November 2009 and as a Special Assistant in the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance at the U.S. Agency for International Development from January 2007 to January 2008. From November 2008 to January 2009, he also served as a senior advisor for Development and Security to the U.S. Central Command Assessment Team in Washington and in Doha, Qatar.</p>

<p>Prior to his work in the policy arena, Ambassador Brigety served as an assistant professor of government and politics at George Mason University and at the School of International Service at American University between August 2003 and April 2009. In addition, Ambassador Brigety was a researcher with the Arms Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) from August 2001- May 2003, where he conducted research missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Before joining HRW, Ambassador Brigety was an active duty U.S. naval officer and held several staff positions in the Pentagon and in fleet support units.</p>

<p>Ambassador Brigety is a 1995 distinguished midshipman graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned a B.S. in political science (with merit), served as the Brigade Commander and received the Thomas G. Pownall Scholarship. He also holds an M.Phil. and a Ph.D. in international relations from the University of Cambridge, England. Ambassador Brigety is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a recipient of the Council’s International Affairs Fellowship.</p>

<p>Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety II (born September 7, 1973) is an American diplomat and academic, currently serving as the Dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University. Previously, Brigety has served as United States Ambassador to the African Union, as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, and as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. On February 28, 2020, he was announced as the next Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of the South.</p>

<p>A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Brigety is the son of Reuben Brigety, a physician, and Barbara Brigety, an educator and school administrator. He graduated from Sandalwood High School as the salutatorian. He applied to the US Naval Academy, and was appointed there as part of the Class of 1995. At the Academy, served as the Midshipman Brigade Commander during his senior year. He earned a Bachelor of Science in political science and graduated as a Distinguished Naval Graduate.</p>

<p>After graduation, he served in The Pentagon. Then through the Thomas G. Pownall Scholarship awarded him from the Naval Academy Alumni Association, he spent two years at the University of Cambridge in England, where he obtained a Master of Philosophy in international relations. Brigety then served as an active duty U.S. naval officer, and entered training to be a submarine officer. Determined to dedicate himself to humanitarian causes, he requested and received an honorable discharge and returned to study at Cambridge and earned Doctor of Philosophy, also in international relations.</p>

<p>From August 2003 and April 2009, Dr. Brigety served as an assistant professor of government and politics at George Mason University and at the American University School of International Service. In addition, he was a researcher with the Arms Division of Human Rights Watch from August 2001 through May 2003, conducting research missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.</p>

<p>Dr. Brigety is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a recipient of the Council’s International Affairs Fellowship.</p>

<p>From January 2007 to January 2008, Dr. Brigety served as a Special Assistant in the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance at the U.S. Agency for International Development. From January 2008 to November 2009, he served as Director of the Sustainable Security Program at the Center for American Progress. From November 2008 to January 2009, he also served as a senior advisor for Development and Security to the U.S. Central Command Assessment Team in Washington and in Doha, Qatar.</p>

<p>From December 2009 to November 2011, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. In this capacity, he supervised U.S. refugee programs in Africa, managed U.S. humanitarian diplomacy with major international partners, and oversaw the development of international migration policy.</p>

<p>Dr. Brigety was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of African Affairs on November 14, 2011, with responsibility for Southern African and Regional Security Affairs, and served in that capacity until September 3, 2013. From that date, he served as the appointed Representative of the United States of America to the African Union and Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN Economic Commission for Africa.</p>

<p>In August 2015, the George Washington University announced they had selected Ambassador Brigety for the Dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs. He began serving in that capacity on October 1, 2015.</p>

<p>On February 28, 2020, he was announced as the next Vice-Chancellor of The University of the South.</p>