April 2006- May 2008
Mr. Urbancic is responsible for managing and overseeing all aspects of counterterrorism activities at the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism and has dealt with terrorism and its causes throughout his career.
As Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait, Mr. Urbancic coordinated U.S. priorities with the host government and managed the bilateral relationship to ensure access for U.S. and coalition forces into Iraq in 2003. Having specialized in East European, Middle Eastern and African affairs at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in 1990-1991 and 2004-2005, he also has extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy. As U.S. Consul General in Istanbul, Turkey, Mr. Urbancic administered the multi-million dollar assistance program to that country when it suffered one of the worst earthquakes of the twentieth century in 1999.
Among his other assignments, Mr. Urbancic served as Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. embassies in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Freetown (Sierra Leone), and Doha (Qatar). In Freetown, he developed and implemented policy to map a new course for U.S. relations with the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) after its coup in 1992, while, at the same time, managing the evacuation of U.S. citizens. In addition, he has served in Consular and Political Affairs sections in Quebec City (Canada), Amman (Jordan), Tunis (Tunisia), and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). He was also Deputy Director of the Office of Egyptian Affairs in 1995.
Mr. Urbancic holds an M.S. in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. (1993), an M.A. in Byzantine History from City College of New York (1978), and a B.A. in French Literature from New York University (1974). He was awarded the Department of State’s highest award for Deputy Chiefs of Mission (DCM) in 2003: the Baker-Wilkins Award as "DCM of the Year." He has received additional distinctions, including Meritorious and Superior Honor Awards.
A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Mr. Urbancic joined the Department of State in 1983. He speaks French, Arabic, and Turkish.
Released on January 26, 2006
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