Sonata Coulter

Sonata Coulter is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State overseeing policy toward Russia and Central Europe.  Immediately prior to assuming her duties, she served as Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. Previously, Ms. Coulter served as Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia from September 2018 to June 2021.  Her other overseas postings include Political/Economic Chief in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, Senior Economic Officer in Monrovia, Liberia, as well as earlier assignments in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, Russia.  In Washington, she worked as assistance coordinator for the Caucasus in the Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia, covered Iran sanctions in the Economic Bureau’s office of counter threat finance and sanctions, and served as desk officer for Chad and Central African Republic in the Office of Central African Affairs. Ms. Coulter is originally from Los Angeles, California.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in art history and French from Columbia University, and a master’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University.  She speaks Russian and French.