Philip S. Kosnett
Philip Scott Kosnett is an American diplomat. He was sworn in as the fifth U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo on November 27, 2018. Kosnett's previous assignment was as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim at the United States Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. Kosnett was nominated in July 2018 by U.S. president Trump to be the next ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo. The Senate confirmed him in this position in September 2018. Early life and education. Kosnett grew up in New Jersey and Illinois and graduated with an A.B. from Harvard University in 1982. Career. Kosnett  worked as a game designer during his enrollment in high school and college, primarily in New York. After graduating from Harvard University he worked as a teacher in Japan. He then launched a career in Foreign Service, with his first assignment in Ankara, Turkey, serving as a political and consular officer. Following his initial assignment, he then served at eight different United States Missions in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and in senior leadership positions at the Department of State. The positions included Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Deputy  Chief of Mission at the embassy in Iceland. He also served in other political, political-military, and economic-commercial positions at the US Embassies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Netherlands, and Japan. In Washington, Kosnett served in the State Department's bureaus of European, Counter-terrorism, Political-Military, and Intelligence & Research affairs and also worked in the 24-hour Operations Center. Before beginning his assignment in Turkey, Kosnett served as Director of the State Department Office of Southern European Affairs and was responsible for U.S. relations with Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus. Diplomatic service in Turkey. In July 2016, Kosnett began working  at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, initially as the Deputy Chief of Mission. He then assumed the duties of Chargé d’Affaires on October 15, 2017, after former ambassador John R. Bass finished his assignment. United States Ambassador to Kosovo. In July 2018, Kosnett was nominated by U.S. president Trump to be the next ambassador to Kosovo. Kosnett succeeds Greg Delawie, who was U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo 2015–2018. Kosnett's nomination was confirmed in September 2018 by the Senate. Award. Kosnett is the recipient of over 10 Department of State awards, including the State Department Superior Honor and Meritorious Honor  Awards. He was also awarded the Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Army Army Medal for Outstanding Civilian Service. Personal life. Kosnett is married to Alison Kosnett, an international business and development consultant. They have 2 children: Alex, an environmental planner, and Nicole, a social media producer. Kosnett speaks Turkish, Russian, Dutch, and Japanese.