Meet Paul Jones, the new U.S. ambassador to Poland. Ambassador Jones, along with his family, are excited to come to Poland. Watch this video to find out what he believes Poland and the United States can accomplish.
Paul W. Jones was confirmed by the United States Senate as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Poland on August 5, 2015, and sworn in by Secretary Kerry on September 11, 2015.
Ambassador Jones has a wide-ranging background in Europe. As Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs from 2013-15, he was responsible for all aspects of U.S. policy and operations in Europe, particularly Russia and Ukraine. He was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Vienna, Austria (2004-05) and also at the U.S. Embassy in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia (1996-99). Jones served at the OSCE Mission in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995, implementing the Dayton Peace Accords, as well as at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia (1992-94). In Washington, he was Director of the Office for South Central Europe and, previously, Desk Officer for the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. He served twice on the staff of the Secretary of State, as Director of the Secretariat Staff and in the 24-hour Operations Center.
Ambassador Jones’ service in Asia and South Asia has complemented his European focus. As U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia, 2010-13, he led significant growth in the U.S.-Malaysian relationship, becoming the first U.S. Ambassador to be conferred the honorary title of Dato’. When President Obama appointed the late Richard Holbrooke as U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Holbrooke named Jones as his Principal Deputy, serving concurrently as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs. Jones was Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, the Philippines (2005-09). Early in his career, he served in Bogota, Colombia.
Ambassador Jones is a career member of the State Department’s Senior Foreign Service. His awards include the Presidential Meritorious Service Award, the Robert C. Frasure Memorial Award for peace building, and several Superior Honor Awards. He speaks Spanish, Russian, and some Polish. He graduated from Cornell University and received master’s degrees from the University of Virginia and the Naval War College.
