Former U.S. diplomat returns to Myanmar as Deputy Chief of Mission
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Htet Nadi (NP News) - Sep 13
The U.S. Embassy (Yangon) announced on its social media page on September 11 that it welcomes Deputy Chief of Mission Douglas E. Sonnek to enhance U.S. engagement with the people of Myanmar.
He served in Myanmar for about 3 years during Former President U Thein Sein's term and he is now returning.
Prior to the assignment in Myanmar, he reportedly served as Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Colombo and Economic Minister Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, Australia.
Doug also served in the State Department’s East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau as Director of Office of Economic Policy from July 2017 to 2019, coordinating U.S. government participation in Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and economic policy in the region.
In addition, as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Suva from 2014 to 2017, he worked to promote U.S. economic, political and security interests in Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu.
He led the Political/Economic Section at the U.S. Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar from 2011 to 2014, during a period of rapid changes in U.S.-Myanmar bilateral relations.
Doug served as the Vietnam Desk Economics Officer at the U.S. State Department from 2005 to 2007, before heading the Economic Section at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City from 2007 to 2010.
Over that five-year period, U.S.–Vietnam trade and investment expanded tenfold.
While his State Department career focused on trade and investment matters, his external postings included the U.S. embassies in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and Beijing, China, as well as at the U.S. consulate in Shenyang, China.
It is hoped that an American diplomat who understands the customs of China and Myanmar will be able to foster a mutually beneficial environment in regional geopolitics.
It is reported that Doug is a former Peace Corps Volunteer, having served first in the Central African Republic and later in Niue, a small island nation in the South Pacific. He graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.
In Yangon, he is joined by his spouse, Winnie, while their two children are pursuing university studies.
Zawgyi Version:
Former U.S. diplomat returns to Myanmar as Deputy Chief of Mission
Htet Nadi (NP News) - Sep 13
The U.S. Embassy (Yangon) announced on its social media page on September 11 that it welcomes Deputy Chief of Mission Douglas E. Sonnek to enhance U.S. engagement with the people of Myanmar.
He served in Myanmar for about 3 years during Former President U Thein Sein's term and he is now returning.
Prior to the assignment in Myanmar, he reportedly served as Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Colombo and Economic Minister Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, Australia.
Doug also served in the State Department’s East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau as Director of Office of Economic Policy from July 2017 to 2019, coordinating U.S. government participation in Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and economic policy in the region.
In addition, as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Suva from 2014 to 2017, he worked to promote U.S. economic, political and security interests in Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu.
He led the Political/Economic Section at the U.S. Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar from 2011 to 2014, during a period of rapid changes in U.S.-Myanmar bilateral relations.
Doug served as the Vietnam Desk Economics Officer at the U.S. State Department from 2005 to 2007, before heading the Economic Section at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City from 2007 to 2010.
Over that five-year period, U.S.–Vietnam trade and investment expanded tenfold.
While his State Department career focused on trade and investment matters, his external postings included the U.S. embassies in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and Beijing, China, as well as at the U.S. consulate in Shenyang, China.
It is hoped that an American diplomat who understands the customs of China and Myanmar will be able to foster a mutually beneficial environment in regional geopolitics.
It is reported that Doug is a former Peace Corps Volunteer, having served first in the Central African Republic and later in Niue, a small island nation in the South Pacific. He graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.
In Yangon, he is joined by his spouse, Winnie, while their two children are pursuing university studies.