David J. Kramer
Encyclopedia
David J. Kramer was United States
Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
from 2008 to 2009. He became executive director of Freedom House
in October 2010.
, receiving his B.A.
in Soviet Studies
and Political Science
, and then at Harvard University
, receiving his M.A.
in Soviet Studies.
After university, Kramer was a Lecturer
in Russian Studies
at Clark University
and a Teaching Fellow
at Harvard University. During the collapse of the Soviet Union, he was an analyst for The Christian Science Monitor
Network. He later moved to Washington, D.C.
and became a Senior Fellow at the Project for the New American Century
, Associate Director of the Russian and Eurasian Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
, and Assistant Director of Russian and Eurasian Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
.
Kramer then joined the United States Department of State
as Executive Director of the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. He next served as Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, before becoming a professional staff member for the Policy Planning Staff
. From July 2005 to March 2008, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
.
In 2008, President of the United States
George W. Bush
nominated Kramer as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
, and, after Senate confirmation, he held this office from March 21, 2008 to January 20, 2009.
Kramer left his position as a Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund
to became executive director of Freedom House
on October 4, 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
The Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor is the head of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor within the United States Department of State...
from 2008 to 2009. He became executive director of Freedom House
Freedom House
Freedom House is an international non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C. that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights...
in October 2010.
Biography
David J. Kramer was educated at Tufts UniversityTufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
, receiving his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Soviet Studies
Soviet and Communist studies
Soviet and Communist studies is the field of historical studies of the Soviet Union and other Communist states, as well as of communist parties, such as the Communist Party USA, that existed or still exist in some form in many countries, inside or outside the former Soviet Bloc...
and Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, and then at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, receiving his M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Soviet Studies.
After university, Kramer was a Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
in Russian Studies
Russian Studies
Russian studies is a field of study first developed during the Cold War. It is an interdisciplinary field crossing history and language studies. It is closely related to Soviet and Communist studies...
at Clark University
Clark University
Clark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
and a Teaching Fellow
Teaching fellow
A teaching fellow is a particular teaching role at some universities.-United States:In the USA a teaching fellow is an advanced graduate student who serves as the primary instructor for an undergraduate course...
at Harvard University. During the collapse of the Soviet Union, he was an analyst for The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor is an international newspaper published daily online, Monday to Friday, and weekly in print. It was started in 1908 by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist. As of 2009, the print circulation was 67,703.The CSM is a newspaper that covers...
Network. He later moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and became a Senior Fellow at the Project for the New American Century
Project for the New American Century
The Project for the New American Century was an American think tank based in Washington, D.C. that lasted from 1997 to 2006. It was co-founded as a non-profit educational organization by neoconservatives William Kristol and Robert Kagan...
, Associate Director of the Russian and Eurasian Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a foreign-policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The organization describes itself as being dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States...
, and Assistant Director of Russian and Eurasian Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Center for Strategic and International Studies
The Center for Strategic and International Studies is a bipartisan Washington, D.C., foreign policy think tank. The center was founded in 1962 by Admiral Arleigh Burke and Ambassador David Manker Abshire, originally as part of Georgetown University...
.
Kramer then joined the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
as Executive Director of the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. He next served as Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, before becoming a professional staff member for the Policy Planning Staff
Policy Planning Staff
The Policy Planning Staff is the chief strategic arm of the United States Department of State. It was created in 1947 by renowned Foreign Service Officer George F...
. From July 2005 to March 2008, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs is a position within the American Department of State that leads the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs charged with implementing American foreign policy in Europe and Eurasia, and with advising the Under Secretary for...
.
In 2008, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
nominated Kramer as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
The Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor is the head of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor within the United States Department of State...
, and, after Senate confirmation, he held this office from March 21, 2008 to January 20, 2009.
Kramer left his position as a Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund
German Marshall Fund
The German Marshall Fund of the United States is a nonpartisan American public policy and grantmaking institution dedicated to promoting greater cooperation and understanding between North America and Europe....
to became executive director of Freedom House
Freedom House
Freedom House is an international non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C. that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights...
on October 4, 2010.