Nicholas R. Berliner is an American diplomat currently serving as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russia and Central Asia on the

United States National Security Council The United States National Security Council (NSC) is the national security council used by the president of the United States for consideration of national security, military, and Foreign relations of the United States, foreign policy matter ...

since February 2023. Before acquiring these positions, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, where he was responsible for Russia, as well as

non-proliferation Nuclear proliferation is the spread of nuclear weapons to additional countries, particularly those not recognized as nuclear-weapon states by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the ''Non-Proliferation Tr ...

, security assistance, and arms control from September 2022 to February 2023. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Belgium from 2019 to 2022.

Education

In 1990, Berliner graduated from

Vassar College Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States. The college be ...

with a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

in History. In 1997, he attended

Georgetown University Georgetown University is a private university, private Jesuit research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic higher education, Ca ...

in Washington D.C and received a

Master of Science in Foreign Service This list refers to specific master's degrees in North America. Please see master's degree for a more general overview. Accountancy Master of Accountancy (MAcc, MAc, MAcy or MPAcc), alternatively Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAcy or M ...

(MSFS) degree in 1999.

Awards

In 2021, Berliner was awarded the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award by 46th U.S President

Joe Biden Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...

Personal life

He is married and has three children. He enjoys spending time outdoors and his hobbies include hiking, sailing, and biking. He is fluent in Spanish, French, Croatian, and Russian.

References

Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Ambassadors of the United States to Belgium {{US-diplomat-stub