press releases 2009
Ambassador-designate Lee Feinstein Confirmed by the U.S. Senate
29 September 2009
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| Lee A. Feinstein |
On Mr. Feinstein’s confirmation, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright said, “I worked closely with Lee Feinstein during my years in government and expect that he will make a superb ambassador to our close allies in Warsaw. Ambassador Feinstein is deeply knowledgeable about European affairs, strongly committed to the Trans-Atlantic partnership, and highly-respected by leaders on both sides of the Atlantic."
Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Victor Ashe said, "I congratulate Lee Feinstein on his confirmation and wish him and his family the very best on their Polish journey.” As I depart Poland, I do so with the confidence that this position will be filled by an extraordinary patriot, who is committed to our steadfast allies in Poland."
At Mr. Feinstein’s confirmation hearing, Senator John Kerry, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described Feinstein as a “highly regarded strategic thinker.” Senator Mark Warner, from Mr. Feinstein’s home state of Virginia, said, Mr. Feinstein “understands Washington and U.S. national interests and – more importantly – he understands the world. We are fortunate to have him as the nominee to a country with which we share such an important strategic relationship.”
Tom Malinowski, former senior director for foreign policy speech writing at the National Security Council, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) last month, “Feinstein will be a very influential figure in the Administration. He knows the key players very well, including both Hillary [Clinton] and President Obama. In his person, Poland receives someone who is very important and well-connected.”
Lee A. Feinstein was nominated by President Obama on July 20 and appeared before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 15 for his confirmation hearing.
Mr. Feinstein has worked in senior capacities in the U.S. government, including in the Office of Strategy and Requirements at the Department of Defense and as Principal Deputy Director of Policy Planning for Madeleine Albright at the Department of State. He was national security director for Secretary Clinton’s presidential campaign and later a foreign policy advisor to President Obama’s campaign. Mr. Feinstein was also an advisor to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Senator George Mitchell, now Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, who co-chaired a congressionally-mandated report on U.S. Interests and the United Nations.
A national security strategist and an international lawyer, Mr. Feinstein's work at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Brookings Institution focused on global challenges from nuclear proliferation, to transatlantic relations, to the changing role of international norms and institutions. Mr. Feinstein holds a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center and an M.A. in political science from the City University of New York.
