Alexander Vershbow took up his duties as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation on July 19, 2001. He is a career member of the Foreign Service, with rank of Career Minister, and has extensive experience in East-West relations and European security affairs.

From January 1998 until July 2001, Alexander Vershbow served as the U.S. Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). As U.S. Representative on the North Atlantic Council, Ambassador Vershbow was centrally involved in transforming NATO to meet the challenges of the post-cold war era, including the admission of new members and the development of relations with Russia through the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council.

In June 2001, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell awarded Ambassador Vershbow the State Department's Distinguished Service Award for his work at NATO.

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