Ambassador (Ret.) Marcie B. Ries is a private consultant specializing in relations with Europe and national security. She also mentors and speaks on leadership and diplomacy to new civilian and military leaders.

During thirty-seven years of diplomatic service, she served in Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean. She is a three-time Chief of Mission, serving as Head of the U.S. Office Pristina (2003-2004), United States Ambassador to Albania (2004-2007) and, most recently (2012-2015), as United States Ambassador to Bulgaria.

Ambassador Ries has wide experience on European and security issues. She has been Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in both the European and Arms Control Bureaus. During “the surge” of 2007-2008, she served as the political-military Minister at Embassy Baghdad and was a senior member of the team that negotiated the 2011 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which was signed by Presidents Obama and Medvedyev in Prague in April, 2010.

Ambassador Ries is a graduate of Oberlin College and holds a Masters Degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She is a graduate of the State Department’s Senior Seminar and the Department of Defense Pinnacle Course and is a recipient of the U.S. Army’s Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, a Presidential Meritorious Service Award, and four Department of State Superior Honor awards. She is a member of the Board of the American Academy of Diplomacy, of the American College of Sofia, and Chair of the Policy Committee of the Cox Foundation.

Ambassador Ries is married to Ambassador (ret.) Charles Ries and has a son, Alexander, and a daughter, Meredith.