Derek Mitchell, Former U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar - 'Myanmar’s Political Transition: Looking Ahead'

Ambassador Derek Mitchell is the CEO of Shwe Strategies LLC. He currently also serves as a Senior Advisor to both the Albright Stonebridge Group and the U.S. Institute of Peace. Ambassador Mitchell was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 29, 2012, as the first U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Burma) in 22 years. He took up his post on July 12, 2012, and departed in March 2016. In 2011, Ambassador Mitchell was appointed the U.S. Department of State’s first Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma, with the rank of ambassador. From 2009 to 2011, Ambassador Mitchell served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Asian and Pacific Security Affairs (APSA), in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, overseeing the Defense Department’s security policy in Northeast, Southeast, South, and Central Asia. From 2001 to 2009, Ambassador Mitchell was Senior Fellow and Director of the Asia Division of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He was Special Assistant for Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 1997-2001. In the 1990s, Ambassador Mitchell served as Senior Program Officer for Asia and the former Soviet Union at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs in Washington, D.C. Ambassador Mitchell began his work in Washington as a foreign policy assistant in the office of Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) from 1986-88. Ambassador Mitchell has authored numerous books, articles, and policy reports on Asian security affairs, and co-authored China: The Balance Sheet – What the World Needs to Know about the Emerging Superpower (Public Affairs, 2006). He received a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Virginia, and served as a visiting scholar at Peking University in 2007.

[StoicRoadCyclist]

The best insight on Myanmar presented by very very wise former U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar. People who really want to help Myanmar moving in the right direction MUST learn from him. I wish he could still be the U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar because it is so rare to have such a wise person on Myanmar. He truly understands Myanmar!👍👍👍👏👏👏

[zekhong]

Mitchell, you understand well about Burma .Unfortunately, U are no longer Ambassador to Burma.