Ries, Marcie Berman, 1950-

<p>Marcie Berman Ries (born August 25, 1950) is a senior American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Bulgaria.</p>

<p>A specialist in national security issues and arms control, Ries worked as the Director of the Office of United Nations Political Affairs from 2001 to 2003, and then served as the Chief of Mission in Pristina, Kosovo from 2003 to 2004.</p>

<p>In 2005, she was appointed as American ambassador to Albania, and held that position until 2007. She left Albania in 2007 to become the Minister-Counselor for Political-Military Affairs in Iraq.</p>

<p>Upon returning to Washington, D.C., she became the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, and then went on to serve as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear and Strategic Policy.</p>

<p>Ries obtained her Bachelor's from Oberlin College, and her master's degree from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. She is married to Charles P. Ries, a former U.S. ambassador to Greece.</p>

<p>Ambassador (Ret.) Marcie B. Ries is a private consultant specializing in relations with Europe and national security. She also mentors and speaks on leadership and diplomacy to new civilian and military leaders.</p>

<p>During thirty-seven years of diplomatic service, she served in Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean. She is a three-time Chief of Mission, serving as Head of the U.S. Office Pristina (2003-2004), United States Ambassador to Albania (2004-2007) and, most recently (2012-2015), as United States Ambassador to Bulgaria.</p>

<p>Ambassador Ries has wide experience on European and security issues. She has been Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in both the European and Arms Control Bureaus. During “the surge” of 2007-2008, she served as the political-military Minister at Embassy Baghdad and was a senior member of the team that negotiated the 2011 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which was signed by Presidents Obama and Medvedyev in Prague in April, 2010.</p>

<p>Ambassador Ries is a graduate of Oberlin College and holds a Masters Degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She is a graduate of the State Department’s Senior Seminar and the Department of Defense Pinnacle Course and is a recipient of the U.S. Army’s Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, a Presidential Meritorious Service Award, and four Department of State Superior Honor awards. She is a member of the Board of the American Academy of Diplomacy, of the American College of Sofia, and Chair of the Policy Committee of the Cox Foundation.</p>

<p>Ambassador Ries is married to Ambassador (ret.) Charles Ries and has a son, Alexander, and a daughter, Meredith.</p>

<p>Ambassador (Ret.) Marcie Ries is a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center's Future of Diplomacy Project. She is also a Senior Advisor in the Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute Leadership and Management School.</p>

<p>During thirty-seven years of diplomatic service, she served in Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. She is a three-time Chief of Mission, serving as Head of the U.S. Office Pristina, Kosovo (2003-2004); as United States Ambassador to Albania (2004-2007); and, most recently (2012-2015), as United States Ambassador to Bulgaria.</p>

<p>Ambassador Ries has wide experience on UN, European and security matters and was a senior member of the team that negotiated the 2011 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with the Russian Federation. In 2008-2009, Ambassador Ries was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR). In that capacity, she had responsibility for offices dealing with relations with the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO), the European Union (EU) and Western Europe, as well as strategic planning and personnel. EUR includes 50 countries and 72 posts. From 2007-2008, the period known as “the surge,” Ambassador Ries was Minister-Counselor for Political-Military Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. As such, she handled regional issues with the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, coordinated the civilian side of the Joint Campaign Plan and served as Embassy liaison with the Military Command Staff. As Director of the State Department’s Office of United Nations Political Affairs for the two years following the 9/11 attack, she organized State Department support for U.S. representatives in the General Assembly and in the Security Council. Ambassador Ries’ experience abroad also includes service as Counselor in the U.S. Embassy in London, four years at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, and tours in Turkey and the Dominican Republic. At the Foreign Service Institute, she serves as a senior mentor for U.S. ambassadors preparing for their ambassadorships and other senior officers undertaking new leadership responsibilities. She also speaks to students and professional groups on leadership and European issues.</p>

<p>Ambassador Ries is a graduate of Oberlin College and holds a Masters Degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She is a graduate of the State Department’s Senior Seminar and the Department of Defense Pinnacle Course and is a recipient of the U.S. Army’s Distinguished Civilian Service Medal and a Presidential Meritorious Service Award. She serves on the Board of the American Academy of Diplomacy and the American College of Sophia.</p>