Michael Cotter

Michael Cotter is a retired career Foreign Service officer. During a 32-year career Cotter served in seven overseas posts, primarily in the developing world (Bolivia, Ecuador, Zaire, Vietnam), as well as assignments at the State Department.  In 1995 he was confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan where he served until 1998. He speaks fluent Spanish, professional-level French and conversational Turkish.

After retirement Cotter  was a volunteer Senior Researcher with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.  Since retiring to North Carolina in 2001, he has been active with local non-profits, chairing the Advisory Council of the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program of Orange County (2004–8), serving on the board of The Hispanic Liaison in Chatham County (2009), and is on the board and also publisher of the online journal of foreign affairs “americandiplomacy.org”

Cotter is a native of Wisconsin and has degrees from Georgetown (BSFS), Stanford (MA) and Michigan (JD).  He is married to Joanne Cotter, also a retired Foreign Service officer