REPORT FOR THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE
SUBJECT: Ambassadorial Nomination: Certificate of Demonstrated Competence — Foreign Service Act, Section 304(a)(4)
POST: Slovak Republic
CANDIDATE: Bridget A. Brink
Bridget A. Brink, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, most recently served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the Department of State (2015-2018). During more than 20 years in the Foreign Service, Ms. Brink has advanced U.S. policy in Europe and Eurasia, including as Deputy Chief of Mission in Tbilisi, Georgia (2011-2014) and Tashkent, Uzbekistan (2014-2015). Ms. Brink led policy development and implementation for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. In this capacity, she coordinated policy on Ukraine. She also led the U.S. delegations to the international discussions on the protracted conflicts in Georgia and Moldova. Earlier in her career, Ms. Brink led policy coordination for the Aegean (Turkey, Greece and Cyprus) and the Caucasus at the National Security Council (2009-2010). She also advanced efforts to reunify Cyprus and resolve the conflicts in the Balkans. Her strong leadership, regional expertise, and reputation for producing results make her an excellent candidate for U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic.
Ms. Brink also served the Department of State as Deputy Director, Office of Southern Europe, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (2008-2009), Political-Economic Chief, U.S. Embassy Tbilisi, Georgia (2005-2008), Special Assistant, Under Secretary for Political Affairs (2002-2004), Cyprus Desk Officer Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (1999-2002), and Consular/Political Officer, U.S. Embassy Belgrade, Serbia (1997-1999). Previously, she worked as a Volunteer in Service to America in Blanding, Utah.
Ms. Brink earned a B.A. from Kenyon College cum laude, and two M.Sc. degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom. She is the recipient of eight notable Department of State awards. Ms. Brink speaks Russian and Serbian, as well as basic Georgian and French.