April 2008 – Reno Harnish

avril 18, 2008

Guest

Ambassador Harnish discussed the role of OES in science cooperation (C-175 process, leadership in negotiations and grants making); the OES network of ESTH officers and hub officers around the world as an information and cooperation tool; as well as WIREC, biofuels and sustainablility. He also answered questions, particularly those regarding many practical details of international exchanges, from participants.

Biography

Ambassador Reno Harnish took up his duties in the Bureau on April 25, 2006. From 2003-06 he served as Chief of Mission in Baku, Azerbaijan. In 2002-03 he served as designated Chief of Mission, U.S. Office Pristina, Kosovo. From 1999-02 he was Deputy Chief of Mission in Cairo, where he was responsible for the operations of a $2 billion plus, 2400 employee Mission. Before Egypt, Mr. Harnish served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm. From 1992 – 1995 he led U.S. policy on scientific and environmental cooperation with the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union and political cooperation with the Central Asian countries in the Department of State.

Earlier, he served as Environment, Science and Technology Counselor, U.S. Embassy Rome; Economic and Commercial Counselor at the U.S. Embassy to the German Democratic Republic; in the Office of Developed Country Trade, Department of State; as an Economic Officer, U.S. Embassy, Vienna; a Political Officer, Status Liaison Office, Saipan and an Economic Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy, Lagos, Nigeria. Mr. Harnish was honored for Presidential Meritorious Service, received Senior performance pay three times and has been awarded a Meritorious and two Superior Honor Awards.

Before entering the Foreign Service, Mr. Harnish worked as a research assistant at the American Enterprise Institute, an international economist at the U.S. Department of Treasury and as a clerk for Congressman Dave Martin of Nebraska. He received a Bachelor’s in Political Science from San Diego State University, a Masters in International Studies and a second Masters in Economics from American University. In 1995/96 he attended Seminar XXI, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. Harnish speaks German, Italian, Swedish and some Azerbaijani.