Deputy Chief of Mission
Mark L. Asquino
Biography
Mark Asquino became Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Khartoum in July 2008. Prior to this, he served as Principal Deputy Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) at the U.S. Department of State from 2006-2008. S/CRS has the mandate to lead, coordinate, and institutionalize U.S. government efforts to prevent conflict and to help stabilize and reconstruct countries in transition from conflict situations.
From 2003-2006, Mr. Asquino was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Almaty, Kazakhstan. There he had responsibility for day-to-day operations of a Mission that included a regional USAID headquarters and a total of more than 100 direct-hire Americans and 450 locally engaged staff. In addition, he coordinated final preparations for the Embassy's move to the new capital of Astana, some 800 miles north of Almaty.
Mr. Asquino began his Foreign Service career with the U.S. Information Agency in 1978. His overseas assignments include Public Affairs Junior Officer Trainee at U.S. Embassy Caracas and Assistant Press Officer, U.S. Embassy Panama City. From 1982-1986, he served at U.S. Embassy Madrid, where he was Director of the U.S. Cultural Center and Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer. Mr. Asquino was assigned to U.S. Embassy Bucharest as Cultural Affairs Officer (1991-1994), and from 1994-1998 was the Press Officer at U.S. Embassy Santiago.
After completing Russian language training, Asquino served as Public Affairs Officer at U.S. Embassy Tashkent from 1999-2002. In the wake of the September 11 attacks, Uzbekistan became a front-line state that the U.S relied upon for assistance to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan. Mr. Asquino conducted regular briefings and assisted the hundreds of American and international journalists who came to Tashkent to cover OEF.
From 1975-1976, he was the Fulbright Lecturer in American Studies at the University of Oviedo in Spain. Born and raised in Rhode Island, Mark Asquino holds a Ph.D. in American Civilization from Brown University. He is married to Jane (Farnsworth) Asquino.