Richard Morningstar

WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama announced the nomination of career-diplomat Richard Morningstar as for the US Ambassadorship in Azerbaijan, reported Bloomberg.

Morningstar is the Secretary of State’s Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy. Prior to his appointment in April 2009, he was a Senior Director for Stonebridge International LLC. During this time, he taught courses at Stanford Law School (2004-2009) and at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (2003-2009). From 1999 to 2001, he served as U.S. Ambassador to the European Union. From 1998 to 1999, he was Special Advisor to the President and the Secretary of State for Caspian Basin Energy Diplomacy. From 1995 to 1998, he served as Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on Assistance to the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union. From 1993 to 1995, he was Senior Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Prior to serving in the federal government, Ambassador Morningstar worked for Costar Corporation where he was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (1990-1993) and President and Chief Executive Officer (1981-1990). From 1989 to 1993, he also served as a Commissioner of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. He began his career in 1970 as an attorney with Nixon and Peabody, formerly known as Peabody and Brown, in Boston. Ambassador Morningstar received his B.A. from Harvard and J.D. from Stanford Law School.

The ambassadorship to Azerbaijan has been vacant since the departure of Matthew Bryza, whose recess appointment term expired without the Senate approving his candidacy in January.