Vice President and Director of Foreign Policy Studies

The Brookings Institution

 

Carlos Pascual is vice president and director of the foreign policy studies program at the Brookings Institution. 

 

Before joining Brookings, Pascual served as coordinator for reconstruction and stabilization at the Department of State, where he led and coordinated U.S. government planning to help stabilize and reconstruct societies in transition from conflict or civil strife.  In 2003, Pascual was coordinator for U.S. assistance to Europe and Eurasia, where he managed the allocation and implementation of approximately $1.1 billion in annual assistance. 

 

From 2000 to 2003, Pascual served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. He oversaw U.S. policy focused on promoting Ukrainian reforms critical to its integration with the Euro-Atlantic community. 

 

Pascual served as special assistant to the president and National Security Council (NSC) senior director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia from 1998 to 2000. He advised the president on U.S. policy to advance security interests with Russia and reduce proliferation risks.  Pascual guided U.S. policy to encourage Ukraine’s commitment to democratic and market reforms and to address stability, security, and democracy concerns in the Caucasus and Central Asia. 

 

Prior to his work at the NSC, Pascual held several positions at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). From 1994 to 1995 he was deputy assistant administrator for Europe and the New Independent States. He oversaw budget and policy development for USAID’s annual programs of $1.2 billion in the region. In 1992, Pascual became director of the office of program analysis and coordination for the New Independent States Task Force. He joined USAID in 1983 and served in Sudan, South Africa, Mozambique, and in the State Department’s Africa Bureau.