Former United States’ Ambassador to Algeria (2014-2017)
Joan A. Polaschik was sworn in as Ambassador to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria on August 15, 2014. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ambassador Polaschik previously served as Director of the Office of Egypt and Levant Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

In 2013, she served as the Acting Director of the State Department’s Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs. Before that, she was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Libya from 2009 to 2012, Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan from 2005 to 2008, and Regional Refugee Coordinator based at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan from 2001 to 2004. Ambassador Polaschik served as Iran Desk Officer from 2000 to 2001 and as Staff Assistant in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs from 1999 to 2000 at the Department of State. Her other assignments have included Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia from 1997 to 1999 and Consular and General Services Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 1995 to 1996.

Ambassador Polaschik received a B.A. from the University of Virginia and an M.S. from Georgetown University. She speaks Arabic, Azerbaijani, French and Russian.