General Discussion

https://www.state.gov/biographies/michael-kozak/





With more than 50 years of service as a diplomat, Ambassador Kozak has twice served as Senior Bureau Official for WHA: from 2019 to 2021, and since January 2025. He previously served as coordinator for Afghan refugees in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (2022-2025), senior bureau official in the Office of Global Criminal Justice (2021-2022), deputy special representative for Venezuela (2019), senior bureau official for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) (2017-2019), senior advisor to the DRL assistant secretary (2009-2017), and DRL principal deputy assistant secretary (2003-2005).
Overseas, Kozak served as ambassador to Belarus (2000-2003), chief of mission at the United States Interest Section in Havana (1996-1999), and special negotiator for Haiti (1993-1996). In addition, Kozak headed the U.S. delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation for several years in Europe’s Human Dimension Conference.

Earlier in his career, Kozak served as senior director for democracy, human rights, and international organizations at the NSC (2005-2009). Kozak also served as principal deputy assistant secretary for Inter-American Affairs (1988-1991), principal deputy legal adviser (1985-1988), and as attorney adviser to the Panama Canal Zone Government (1972-73).

A charter member of the Senior Executive Service, Kozak has received numerous awards and honors, including the Department of State’s Superior Honor Award, Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive, Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive and the Young Federal Lawyer Award.

Kozak earned both a bachelor’s degree and a JD from the University of California at Berkeley. He and his wife, Eileen, have two sons.