About the Deputy Chief of Mission

Christopher Murray, Deputy Chief of Mission

Christopher Murray arrived in Brussels in July 2007 as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Mission to the European Union. He served as Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. from January 2009 until Ambassador Kennard arrived in December 2009.

Mr. Murray previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassies in Beirut, Lebanon, from 2004 to 2007, and in Algiers, Algeria, from 1998 to 2000.  In Beirut, during the summer war of 2006, Mr. Murray directed the evacuation of 15,000 Americans from Lebanon, the largest ever overseas evacuation of American citizens.

Mr. Murray’s other overseas assignments include Chief of the Political Section at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria; political officer at the U.S. Mission to the European Communities in Brussels; economic officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Lubumbashi, the Congo; and consular officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica.  He took part in the Department of State’s long term Arabic language program in Tunis, Tunisia.

Mr. Murray’s previous positions at the Department of State in Washington include Director of the Office of Nonproliferation Policy, Deputy Director of European Regional Affairs, Middle East Affairs officer in the Office of UN Political Affairs, political officer in the Office of NATO Affairs, and country officer for Somalia.    

Mr. Murray received a B.A. in government from Lawrence University and a J.D. from Cornell Law School.  He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the Middle East Institute.  He is the author of several articles and book chapters on U.S.-European relations.  He speaks Arabic, Dutch and French.

Mr. Murray was born in 1953 in St. Louis, Missouri.  He has a son and a daughter.

Remarks:

• DCM Murray Discusses the U.S.-European Security Relationship (Sep 20, 2007)

Former Deputy Chiefs of Mission