Michael Guest
Michael Guest enjoyed a distinguished career serving his country in the U.S. Department of State from September 1981 through December 2007.
Across his Foreign Service career, Mr. Guest held a range of demanding executive-level assignments. Overseas, he served with distinction as U.S. Ambassador to Romania (2001-04); Deputy Chief of Mission in the Czech Republic (1996-99); and Deputy Political Counselor in France (1991-94). In Washington, he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, then Acting Assistant Secretary, for Legislative Affairs (1999-2001). Washington assignments also included a stint as Deputy Executive Secretary of the State Department (1994-96) and, during the Reagan Administration, White House Assistant Press Secretary (1985-86). His final career assignment was Dean of the Leadership and Management School (2005-07), in which capacity he trained new ambassadors in strategies for effectiveness.
As U.S. Ambassador to Romania, Mr. Guest played a critical role in shaping that country’s successful preparations for NATO membership–drawing on earlier efforts, as Deputy Chief of Mission, to focus the Czech Republic’s preparations for joining the Alliance. His extensive background in European security policy also includes service as Deputy Director for Political Affairs in the Office of European Security and Political Affairs (1989-91), where he was responsible for political discussions at NATO; organized U.S. participation in and strategy for the then-Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe; and served on the U.S. delegation in negotiations that eventually gave rise to Germany’s reunification. Mr. Guest also worked in the Political Section of our Embassy in Moscow (1987-89) and served earlier on the U.S. delegation to strategic arms control negotiations with the then-Soviet Union.
Both in Romania and in the Czech Republic, Mr. Guest laid substantial public and program emphasis on American values, and on instilling the rule of law in Europe’s new democracies. This was a particular focus in Romania, where Mr. Guest spoke eloquently and often against corruption and political interference in judicial decisions, and was a forceful proponent of government accountability, freedom of the press, and media responsibility.
Mr. Guest was awarded the Department’s Superior Honor Award five times, as well as the Department’s Meritorious Honor Award. In 2003, he was awarded the Department’s prestigious Charles E. Cobb Award for Initiative and Success in Trade Development. In 2006 he received the Christian A. Herter Award, given by the American Foreign Service Association to a Senior Foreign Service Officer in recognition of intellectual courage, initiative, and integrity in the context of constructive dissent.
Mr. Guest resides in Washington with his partner of 12 years, Alexander Nevarez. Since leaving the Department, Mr. Guest has been a consultant to the Council for Global Equality, the goal of which is to ensure that U.S. foreign policy stands up for gay, lesbian, and transgender equality goals as a component of our attention to human rights. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Mr. Guest holds an M.A. in foreign affairs (magna cum laude) from the University of Virginia and a B.A. in history and political science (summa cum laude) from Furman University. He also pursued postgraduate studies (international economics) in France.
