James P. DeHart

U.S. Consul General Vancouver

Jim DeHart is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with 33 years of experience as a U.S. diplomat. He holds the rank of Minister Counselor. Most recently, he served as Coordinator for Special Immigrant Visa Diplomacy. In 2022, he completed a two-year assignment as U.S. Coordinator for the Arctic Region. He brings significant experience in regional security, civilian-military cooperation, and international negotiations. A hallmark of his career has been close collaboration with U.S. allies and partners to advance shared interests and values.

In 2021, Jim helped lead the evacuation of American citizens and Afghan allies from Kabul and led the Afghanistan Task Force in Washington. From 2019–2020, he led the negotiation of status of forces, defense cooperation, and burden-sharing agreements worldwide.

He has served twice in Afghanistan—first as Assistant Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul (2018–2019) and earlier as Director of the only civilian-led U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team in Panjshir Province (2009–2010). From 2015–2018, Jim was Deputy Chief of Mission in Oslo, Norway, including extended periods as Chargé d’Affaires.

Previously, he served as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), overseeing assistance programs in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as global initiatives targeting corruption, money laundering, and organized crime. From 2010–2013, Jim was Director of the Office of Afghanistan Affairs.

A former Rusk Fellow at Georgetown University, Jim taught a graduate-level course on NATO enlargement and published on international affairs. He also served as Director for Central Asia on the National Security Council staff at the White House, and as Deputy Director for Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs at the State Department. He has held roles as Special Assistant for Europe and Eurasia to two Under Secretaries of State and served overseas at NATO Headquarters in Brussels; in Melbourne, Australia; and in Istanbul, Turkey. Earlier in his career, he was Desk Officer for Greece and worked in the State Department Operations Center.

Jim was raised in a Foreign Service family, living in Australia, Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Washington, D.C., and Central Oregon. He holds a B.A. from Gonzaga University and a Master’s in International Affairs from The Elliott School at George Washington University. He is married to Lisa DeHart, a teacher, and they have two daughters.