Stephen Michael Schwartz, a career member of the Foreign Service, class of Counselor, currently serves as Director of the Office of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island Affairs in the Department of State, a position he has held since August 2015.
Previously, Mr. Schwartz served as Director of the Office of West African Affairs from 2013 to 2015, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka, Zambia from 2010 to 2013, and Deputy Director of the Office of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands from 2008 to 2010.
Prior to that, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Port Louis, Mauritius from 2004 to 2007, Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa from 2001 to 2004, and Political-Economic Officer at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Cuba from 1999 to 2001.
Mr. Schwartz also served in Washington D.C. as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs from 1998 to 1999 and as Desk Officer in the Office of East African Affairs from 1996 to 1998. His earlier assignments included postings in Kenya, Burundi, and Ethiopia.
Before joining the Foreign Service in 1992, Mr. Schwartz served as a Peace Corps Country Desk Officer from 1985 to 1987, as a Country Desk Assistant from 1984 to 1985, and as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon from 1981 to 1983.
Mr. Schwartz received a B.S. from Miami University, an M.A. from the University of London, and an M.S. from the National Defense University’s National War College.