Ambassador (ret.) John O’Keefe served for 32 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, beginning in Moscow as a general services officer. He joined the Wilson Center as a global fellow in 2019. On retirement from the Foreign Service in 2007, he headed the Open World Leadership Center, a legislative branch agency, for 10 years, then served for two years as counselor to the board of trustees. Amb. O’Keefe expanded the center’s programs from Russia and Ukraine to all countries of the former Soviet Union, the Balkans, Turkey, and Mongolia.
As ambassador to Kyrgyzstan from 2000 to 2003, he negotiated the treaty allowing U.S.-led coalition forces to establish a base there to support operations in Afghanistan. From 2003 to 2004, he headed the Office of Career Development and from 2004 to 2006 was deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Human Resources, serving as acting director general of the Foreign Service.
Amb. O'Keefe has received the Distinguished Honor Award, the Repogle Award for Management Improvement, and the Presidential Meritorious Service Award, as well as several Superior Honor Awards and Meritorious Honor Awards. The American University of Central Asia awarded him the honorary degree of doctor of humane letters. He is married to Monica O’Keefe, a retired public diplomacy officer.
Last updated April 2026.
