Who is he?
John Berry was director of the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from 2009 to 2013. In that capacity, he became the highest-ranking openly gay official to serve in the executive branch of the U.S. government. Berry is well-known for being a strong and motivational leader. Throughout his career, he has advocated for reforming government hiring practices.
John Berry was nominated as the next U.S. ambassador to Australia. Source: USDAgov’s flickr photostream, U.S. Government work.
Berry began his career as a legislative aide at the local, state, and congressional levels, and has leadership experience in a wide array of public service portfolios. Prior to heading OPM, he held positions at the U.S. Department of Treasury, Department of the Interior, and the National Zoo. A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Berry holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University in New York.
Why is he in the news?
On June 21, President Barack Obama nominated Berry to be the next U.S. ambassador to Australia. As such, Berry is set to become the first openly gay ambassador posted to a Group of 20 member country, the most prominent of five gay ambassadors nominated during President Obama’s second term. He will succeed outgoing ambassador Jeff Bleich, who has called Berry “a smart, energetic, and extremely likeable man who is enthusiastic about the U.S.-Australian relationship.”
What can we expect from him?
Berry has repeatedly proven his ability to adapt quickly to new roles and leave organizations better off than when he joined them. In his new role, Berry can be expected to look for avenues for reform within the U.S. Embassy in Canberra and give a major boost to the already vibrant and productive dialogue between the United States and Australia. He will be accompanied by his domestic partner, Curtis Yee, a Hawaii native and former lawyer.
