Reuben E Brigety II was born on September 7,1973 and is an American diplomat and academic who had served as the United States ambassador to South Africa.
22 Facts About Reuben Brigety
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Reuben Brigety was the vice-chancellor and president of the University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee, from 2020 to 2021.
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Previously, Brigety served as dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.
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Reuben Brigety graduated from Sandalwood High School as the salutatorian.
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Reuben Brigety applied to the United States Naval Academy, and was appointed there as part of the Class of 1995.
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Reuben Brigety earned a Bachelor of Science in political science and graduated as a Distinguished Naval Graduate.
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Reuben Brigety then served as an active duty US naval officer, and entered training to be a submarine officer.
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Reuben Brigety returned to study at Cambridge and earned Doctor of Philosophy, in international relations.
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From August 2003 to April 2009, Reuben Brigety was as an assistant professor of government and politics at George Mason University and at the American University School of International Service.
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From January 2007 to January 2008, Reuben Brigety served as a special assistant in the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance at the United States Agency for International Development.
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Reuben Brigety was appointed deputy assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of African Affairs on November 14,2011, with responsibility for Southern African and Regional Security Affairs, and served in that capacity until June, 2013.
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Reuben Brigety began serving in that capacity on October 1,2015.
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Reuben Brigety is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a recipient of the council's International Affairs Fellowship.
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Reuben Brigety faced significant opposition from some students for his tough approach to campus discipline and pandemic-related health policies, including repeated vandalism of his home.
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On December 1,2021, Reuben Brigety announced his resignation from Sewanee, effective December 21.
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Reuben Brigety stated his resignation was due to uncertainty surrounding a possible nomination to be the ambassador to South Africa.
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Reuben Brigety was nominated for the post on February 4,2022.
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Reuben Brigety presented his credentials to President Cyril Ramaphosa on August 11,2022.
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In May 2023, Brigety accused South Africa of supplying arms to Russia during the December 2022 docking of the Russian cargo ship named Lady R South Africa denied the allegation and claimed that Brigety later apologized for the statement.
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That comment led South Africa's foreign ministry to summon Reuben Brigety and created tension between the United States, South Africa, and Russia.
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The ambassador, Reuben Brigety, made the claim three weeks ago in a press briefing, saying he'd "bet my life" on it.
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Reuben Brigety added that South Africa was engaging in "outrageous" anti-Americanism and questioned its claim to be neutral among the world powers.