Michael Alan Ratney

Consul General Michael Ratney

Michael Ratney became U.S. Consul General in Jerusalem on July 29, 2012.

Prior to assuming his duties in Jerusalem, Mr. Ratney was Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Media, leading efforts in the Bureau of Public Affairs focused on foreign communications and media engagement.  From 2010 to 2011, he established and served as the first Director of the Office of International Media Engagement, where he managed State Department initiatives to ensure accurate and positive coverage of U.S. policy by foreign media.  In this capacity, Mr. Ratney oversaw the State Department's six Media Hubs in London, Brussels, Dubai, Johannesburg, Tokyo, and Miami.

From 2009 to 2010, Mr. Ratney served as Spokesman for the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

Prior to returning to Washington in 2009, Mr. Ratney served from 2006 to 2009 as Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Doha, Qatar.  Mr. Ratney was the Deputy Economic Counselor at the American Embassy in Mexico City from 2003 to 2006.  In 2004, he served in Iraq, first as a Political Advisor for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, and then as the first Regional Coordinator at the Regional Embassy Office in Basrah.

Mr. Ratney has a BS in Mass Communication from Boston University (1983) and an MA in International Affairs from the George Washington University (1989).  His languages are Arabic, French, and Spanish.

Mr. Ratney is a member of the Senior Foreign Service.  He is married to Karen Sasahara, also a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State.