Michael Barkin is currently the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Venezuela Affairs Unit, located at the United States Embassy in Bogota, Colombia.
Most recently, he served as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commander of United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), where he advised the Commander and command staff on the foreign policy implications of USSTRATCOM’S global responsibilities.
Prior to that, Mr. Barkin served as Acting Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs as part of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York. In that capacity, he managed U.S. activities in the U.N. Security Council, including publicly representing the United States. Prior postings include Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs at the U.S. Mission to Canada, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador, Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros, Mexico, and as Deputy Director of the State Department’s Office of Canadian Affairs.
Other foreign assignments include service in the Netherlands, Honduras, Uruguay, Kosovo, and Bulgaria.
Mr. Barkin has a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature and philosophy from Emory University in Atlanta, a Master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University, and a Juris Doctor degree from New York University’s School of Law.
Originally from Florida, Mr. Barkin worked as a state prosecutor and public defender in Georgia prior to joining the Foreign Service in 1995.
Mr. Barkin is married with three children.