Avis T. Bohlen served for 25 years as a career Foreign Service Officer with the US State Department, 30 years with the US government. Positions included: Assistant Secretary for Arms Control (1999-2002), Ambassador to Bulgaria (1996-1999), Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Paris (1991-1995). Before that, numerous assignments in the State Department’s Bureau of European Affairs, including Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe in charge of security issues. Also worked on the Secretary’s Policy Planning Staff. Over the years, involved in policy on a wide range of issues relating to U.S.-European relations, European security issues, arms control and Soviet affairs. Retired from the U.S. State Department in May 2002. Before joining the Foreign Service in 1979, worked for the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. M.A. from Columbia University (1965). B.A. from Radcliffe College (1961).

Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. (2002-2003): Member, International Commission on the Balkans (2004-2006). Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University (School of Security Studies) (2005-2009). Part-time employee at Department of State, 2006 to present.

Chair of Board of IREX (International Research and Exchanges) 2003-2013. Other Boards include: American Academy of Diplomacy, American College of Sofia, Henry L. Stimson Center, Arms Control Association. Member Council on Foreign Relations, Century Association.

Publications: “Rise and Fall of Arms Control,” Survival, September, 2003; “Iran: an Opening for Diplomacy?”, Survival, October-November, 2015.

Married to David Calleo, Dean Acheson Professor and Director of European Studies at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies. Resides in Washington, D.C.