Posted: 1:57 am EST
Big news last week was the soon to be departure of EUR’s Assistant Secretary Wess Mitchell who is leaving his post after some 15 months on the job. A/S Mitchell took office in October 2017 and is resigning from his appointment effective February 15. The State Department announced that the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) Elisabeth Millard will serve as Acting A/S for the European and Eurasian Affairs. We’re not sure how long she will be in that acting capacity as we understand that her paperwork has been submitted to retire on February 22. The bureau appears to have six career DASes, two special envoys (one career, one noncareer), and one vacancy (Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia – is this a newly created position?). In any case, let us know when you know who will be the next Acting A/S.
Wess has done an outstanding job as Assistant Secretary. I have valued his counsel and wisdom as he has led our European team in this administration. I wish him and his wife Elizabeth, who is also a committed public servant, much happiness with their two young children. https://t.co/BkrNWOJGOl
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 22, 2019
Assistant Secretary Mitchell is stepping down as leader of the @StateDept Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. His departure is effective February 15, 2019. Elisabeth Millard, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, will serve as acting Assistant Secretary of State.
— Robert Palladino (@StateDeputySPOX) January 22, 2019
Here is the resignation letter from Assistant Secretary of State Wess Mitchell to Secretary Pompeo. It's dated Jan. 4 but news broke today, in Mitchell's interview with the @washingtonpost pic.twitter.com/MT4aZdTULR
— Robbie Gramer (@RobbieGramer) January 22, 2019
Wess Mitchell’s replacement is scheduled to retire several weeks later… State needs plan for leadership on Europe ASAP. https://t.co/1KcdwrWn06
— Amanda Sloat (@A_Sloat) January 22, 2019
For more on Wess Mitchell's tenure, may I recommend a piece on Wess Mitchell's tenure: https://t.co/NoCwv1IOcv
— Emily Tamkin (@emilyctamkin) January 22, 2019