Alumni Spotlight: Geoffrey Pyatt

September 1, 2006

The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center
for International and Area Studies at Yale
Newsletter Articles - Fall 2006

Alumni Spotlight: Geoffrey Pyatt

Geoffrey Pyatt, a 1987 graduate of the MacMillan Center’s Master’s Program in International Relations, was named the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the United States of America in New Delhi in June 2006, following four years as Minister-Counselor of Political Affairs. As Deputy Chief of Mission, Pyatt serves as the chief operating officer for one of the United States’ largest and fastest growing foreign missions. Prior to his India assignment, he served as Trade Policy Officer and deputy section chief at the American Consulate General in Hong Kong, where he managed the trade and export control dialogue with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. From 1997 to 1999, he served as Principal Officer of the American Consulate in Lahore, representing the United States in Pakistan’s largest and politically most important province. His Washington assignments include Director for Latin America on the National Security Council staff (1996-97), Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State (1995-96), and Staff Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America (1994). He was Political Officer in New Delhi, India from 1992-94 and Economic Officer and Vice-Consul in Tegucigalpa, Honduras from 1990-92. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he worked with The Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington-based think tank that brings together leading citizens of the Americas.

Pyatt, who grew up in La Jolla, California, and studied political science at the University of California at Irvine before attending Yale, fondly remembers the two years he spent in New Haven and the foundation that it gave for his career in the foreign service. He particularly recalls that Larned Professor Emeritus of History and former Center Director Gaddis Smith “played a foundational role in helping me to think about the role of the U.S. in the international system (and inspiring me with his skills as a teacher).” He and his family are active members of the Yale alumni community in New Delhi, participating in Yale Club of India events and hosting students, faculty, and alumni visiting India’s capital.

###

Contact Information:
Marilyn Wilkes
Yale Center for International and Area Studies
(203) 432-3413
marilyn.wilkes@yale.edu