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F. Daniel Sainz joined the Embassy in Warsaw July 2, 2008.  He previously served overseas as Political/Economic Counselor in the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Cuba (2002-2005), where he worked closely with Cuba’s courageous democratic opposition and civil society.  He also served as Political-Military Officer in the U.S. Embassies in Lisbon, Portugal (1998-2002) and Bucharest, Romania (1996-1998).  In Lisbon, Dan ensured effective implementation of the “Lajes Accord,” the U.S.-Portuguese agreement governing U.S. access to the air base in the Azores and encouraging bilateral political, military and scientific cooperation.  In Bucharest, Dan advised the Romanian Government on preparations for NATO membership, and convinced the Government to participate in the U.S. “Bosnia Train and Equip” initiative. 

He also served a tour in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia (1993-1995), where he focused on Russian relations with the former Soviet republics.  He covered issues such as the denuclearization of Ukraine and the division of Black Sea Fleet assets between Russia and Ukraine.  His first foreign service tour was as vice consul in the U.S. Consulate in Mazatlan, Mexico (1988-1990).

He served in the Department of State as Principal Deputy Director in the European Bureau’s largest geographic office, the Department of South Central Europe (2005-2007).  Dan helped develop U.S. policy toward the world’s “newest countries,” encouraging international support for a newly independent Kosovo and diplomatic recognition of Montenegrin independence after Montenegro’s successful referendum on independence.  He also assisted Balkan countries’ efforts to gain accession to NATO and the European Union.  He served in the former Office of Soviet Affairs (1990-1992), where he covered human rights issues.

Mr. Sainz is excited to begin his tour in Poland for professional and personal reasons.  “A hundred years ago, a Mexican president said, ‘Poor Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States.’  Similarly, Poland has been the playground of Europe’s great powers.  It has a heroic past and a dynamic future, as the country champions the eastward extension of the benefits of trans-Atlantic political and security institutions.”  On a personal note, Mr. Sainz has begun a discovery process, learning about the area near Bialystok from which his maternal grandmother emigrated.

Prior to joining the Department, Mr. Sainz worked as a community liaison in the congressional district office in Queens, New York, for Congressman Thomas Manton.
 
Mr. Sainz received a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in 1984, which included a year of study in the Bologna, Italy Center and a year in Washington, D.C.  He received a bachelor’s degree from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, in 1980.  He speaks Polish, Spanish, French, and Russian.  Mr. Sainz was born in New York City.  He is married, and has three children.
 

Contact information: SainzFD@state.gov