Biography - Mary Warlick

Mary Burce Warlick -
Director of Russian Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Ms. Warlick is currently Director of the Office of Russian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. A career Foreign Service Officer, and member of the Senior Foreign Service, she joined the State Department in 1983. Her Washington assignments include Director, Office of Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus Affairs (1998-2000); Senior Watch Officer (1992-1994); Economic Officer in the Office of Textile Negotiations (1990-1992); and Staff Assistant to the Director of the Foreign Service Institute (1985-1986). 

Ms. Warlick’s overseas assignments at U.S. Embassies in Asia and Europe include Manila, Philippines, where she served twice, first as a Consular Officer (1983–1985) and later as an Economic Officer (1988-1990). She also served as an Economic Officer in Dhaka, Bangladesh (1986-1988); as Economic Officer and Global Affairs Counselor in Bonn, Germany (1994-1998); and, most recently, as Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow (from August 2001- July 2004). During her assignment in Moscow, Ms. Warlick traveled extensively in Russia and worked actively on a wide range of trade, investment and energy issues, including Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization and the protection of Intellectual Property Rights. 

Ms. Warlick was born in Papua New Guinea where her parents lived and worked for many years as Lutheran missionaries. She attended high school in Adelaide, South Australia, received a B.A. in Political Science and Humanities from Valparaiso University in 1979, and a Masters degree in international relations from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1982. Ms. Warlick speaks Russian and German. She is married to a Foreign Service Officer, James B. Warlick, Jr.; they have three children.