Acting Pol/Econ Counselor, American Embassy Budapest

 

Jon Martinson is the Acting Political/Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, Hungary.  In this capacity, he is responsible for a broad range of bi-lateral activities with the Government of Hungary.  

A Foreign Service Officer since 2001, his previous assignments were in London, The United Kingdom and Lomé, Togo.  Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he spent 30 years as an Air Force officer, primarily in flying positions.  His internationally experience included a three years assignment  to an Airlift Division at Ramstein Air Base, Germany from 1980-1983;  service as the Air Component Commander to Joint Task Force Provide Relief in 1992-1993, overseeing famine relief flight operations into Somalia;  and four years as the Air Force and then Defense Attaché to Hungary from 1995-1999.  Prior to his retirement from the Air Force in 2000, he served as the Dean of the Defense Department’s Joint Military Attaché School in Washington, D.C.          

Abstract

“Great expectations and the Obama Presidency”

The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama is the first African American to hold the office. The current president won the 2008 presidential campaign that was perhaps the most exciting campaign since John Kennedy’s successful presidential bid in 1960.

Energizing, in particular, support of a younger generation of voters,  Barack Obama’s ” yes we can” campaign created great expectations for change across the spectrum of American politics – in the United States, and the international community. Six months into the new administration, what does the international community expect of President Obama and the United States going forward - and what does the United States expect from its partners and allies?

What are the most important changes? Are they advantageous in the long run or not? Does Obama’s policy meet the former expectations and requirements? What are the biggest challenges of today’s U.S. Presidency – domestic questions, foreign policy, economic management? How does the current crisis affect the position and the expectations of the Obama Presidency?