Stephen Biegun

Stephen Biegun
Name	Stephen Biegun
Office	United States Deputy Secretary of State
President	Donald Trump
Term start	December 21, 2019
Term end	January 20, 2021
Predecessor	John J. Sullivan
Successor	Wendy Sherman
Office1	U.S. Special Representative for North Korea
President1	Donald Trump
Term start1	August 23, 2018
Term end1	December 21, 2019
Predecessor1	Position established
Successor1	Sung Kim
Birth date	30 March 1963
Birth place	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Party	Republican
Education	University of Michigan (BA)
Spouse	Kirsten Biegun, 1990

Stephen Biegun is an American foreign policy advisor and former diplomat who served as the United States Deputy Secretary of State from 2019 to 2021. He previously held the role of the inaugural U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, leading diplomatic efforts with North Korea during the Trump administration. His career spans decades in both the public and private sectors, including significant roles with the United States Congress, Ford Motor Company, and the National Security Council.

Early life and education

Stephen Biegun was born in Detroit, Michigan. He pursued his higher education at the University of Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political science. His academic focus on Soviet studies and Russian language during this period laid a foundation for his future career in international affairs and national security.

Career

Biegun began his professional career on Capitol Hill, serving as a staff member for several prominent Republican legislators. He worked for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and was a senior staff member for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations under Chairman Richard Lugar. In 2001, he joined the Executive Office of the President as a staff member on the National Security Council, focusing on Russia and Eurasia under National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. From 2003 to 2006, he served as the National Security Advisor to then-Vice President Dick Cheney. Following his government service, Biegun spent over a decade as Vice President of International Governmental Affairs at the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan.

U.S. Special Representative for North Korea

In August 2018, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appointed Biegun as the first U.S. Special Representative for North Korea. His mandate was to lead day-to-day negotiations with North Korea following the 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. Biegun worked closely with counterparts from South Korea, including Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon, and engaged in working-level talks in locations such as Stockholm and Panmunjom. His efforts aimed to achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, though a breakthrough agreement remained elusive during his tenure.

Deputy Secretary of State

Biegun was confirmed as United States Deputy Secretary of State by the United States Senate in December 2019. As the second-ranking official at the United States Department of State, he managed the department's daily operations and advised Mike Pompeo on a wide range of global issues. His portfolio included significant diplomatic engagements across Europe and Asia, and he played a key role in departmental management during the final year of the Trump administration. His tenure concluded with the presidential transition to the Biden administration in January 2021.

Later career and other roles

Following his government service, Biegun returned to the private sector. In 2021, he was appointed Senior Vice President of Global Public Policy at Boeing, based in Arlington, Virginia. He also serves as a non-resident senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and sits on the board of advisors for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He remains a commentator on foreign policy, particularly regarding Indo-Pacific security and relations with Russia.

Personal life

Stephen Biegun married Kirsten Biegun in 1990, and the couple has four children. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has been involved with various educational and policy institutions, including the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. His personal interests include history and ice hockey.

Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:American diplomats Category:United States Deputy Secretaries of State Category:University of Michigan alumni