The Changing Nature and Enduring Value of American Diplomacy
Kate Marie Byrnes
During her 32-year diplomatic career, Ambassador (ret.) Kate Marie Byrnes served in senior leadership positions across Europe, including as U.S. Ambassador to North Macedonia (2019-2022). Her diplomatic assignments included U.S. European Command, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Greece, Spain, Afghanistan, Hungary, Bolivia, Türkiye, and the U.S. Department of State. Fellowships with the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the International Women's Forum Leadership Foundation reinforced her commitment to cultivating effective leadership and public service.
Ambassador Byrnes holds a Bachelor of Science in International Relations and a Master's Degree in Policy Management from Georgetown University. As Founder and Principal of KMB Strategies and as Distinguished Fellow at the University of Tennessee Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, she continues to advance international cooperation, develop future leaders, and help organizations translate global challenges into opportunities for meaningful action.