Susan Thornton
Susan Ashton Thornton[2] is a former American diplomat and former acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.[3][4]
Susan A. Thornton | |
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Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs | |
In office March 9, 2017 – July 2018 | |
President | Donald Trump |
Preceded by | Daniel Russel |
Succeeded by | W. Patrick Murphy |
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs | |
In office June 2014 – July 2018 | |
Personal details | |
Alma mater | Johns Hopkins SAIS[1] Bowdoin College |
Biography
Prior to working at the State Department, Thornton worked at the Foreign Policy Institute where she studied and wrote about Soviet politics and contemporary Russia. She speaks Russian and Mandarin Chinese. Thornton is a career diplomat who has worked at the State Department since 1991. She has previously served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian Affairs since February 2016 and before that, she worked as the Deputy Chief of Mission to the United States Embassy in Turkmenistan.[5]
She was appointed as acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs on March 9, 2017, and on December 24, she was nominated as the Assistant Secretary of State by President Trump.[6]
Susan Thornton retired in August 2018 after then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stepped down.[7] She was never confirmed by the U.S. Senate due to she being considered "too soft on China."[8] In particular, US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) stated that he would do all he can to prevent Susan Thornton from being confirmed.[9]
References
- Linkedin. "Susan Thornton". Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- "PN1085 — Foreign Service". U.S. Congress. February 11, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
- "Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs". United States Department of State. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
- Panda, Ankit (March 14, 2017). "Straight From the US State Department: The 'Pivot' to Asia Is Over". The Diplomat. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
- "Susan Thornton". United States Department of State. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
- Morello, Carol (December 24, 2017). "Tillerson scores a personnel win, as top East Asia adviser is nominated". The Washington Post.
- Washington Times: 'Senior U.S. diplomat for Asia Susan Thornton to retire in July'
- Washington Post: 'Without Rex Tillerson’s protection, a top State Department Asia nominee is in trouble'
- Twitter:
External links
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Daniel Russel |
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Acting 2017–2018 |
Succeeded by W. Patrick Murphy Acting |