Barbara J. Stephenson

Barbara J. Stephenson  has served as Minister at the United States Embassy in London since August 25, 2010.

Previous to her assignment to London, Ms. Stephenson served as the U.S. Ambassador to Panama.  Ms. Stephenson, who holds the rank of Minister Counselor in the career Senior Foreign service, joined the Department in 1985.  Ms. Stephenson also served as Deputy Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Coordinator for Iraq at the U.S. Department of State.

Before taking up Iraq duties, Ms. Stephenson was Director for Planning in the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization in the Department of State.  From 2001-2004, Ms. Stephenson served as American Consul General in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where she worked on the Northern Ireland Peace Process.  From 1998-2001, she served as Consul General and Chief of Mission in Curacao, where she was responsible for the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles as well as Aruba.
 
Ms. Stephenson served as special assistant to Under Secretaries for Political Affairs Peter Tarnoff and Tom Pickering, covering European affairs, including the Balkans.  Other assignments have included desk officer for the UK, political-military officer in South Africa, and political officer in The Hague, San Salvador and Panama.

Ms. Stephenson holds a Ph.D. in English literature.  She speaks Spanish and Dutch and reads French.  She and her husband, Matthew Furbush have two children.

Speeches, Remarks & Events
Ms. Stephenson's speeches and remarks are located on her Speeches & Remarks page.