Headshot of Scot Marciel

Scot Marciel

  • Oksenberg-Rohlen Fellow

Biography

Scot Marciel is Oksenberg-Rohlen Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, affiliated with the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center. Previously, he was a 2020-22 Visiting Scholar and Visiting Practitioner Fellow on Southeast Asia at APARC.  A retired diplomat, Mr. Marciel served as U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar from March 2016 through May 2020, leading a mission of 500 employees during the difficult Rohingya crisis and a challenging time for both Myanmar’s democratic transition and the United States-Myanmar relationship.  Prior to serving in Myanmar, Ambassador Marciel served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific at the State Department, where he oversaw U.S. relations with Southeast Asia.

From 2010 to 2013, Scot Marciel served as U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country.  He led a mission of some 1000 employees, expanding business ties, launching a new U.S.-Indonesia partnership, and rebuilding U.S.-Indonesian military-military relations.  Prior to that, he served concurrently as the first U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Southeast Asia from 2007 to 2010.

Mr. Marciel is a career diplomat with 35 years of experience in Asia and around the world.  In addition to the assignments noted above, he has served at U.S. missions in Turkey, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Brazil and the Philippines.  At the State Department in Washington, he served as Director of the Office of Maritime Southeast Asia, Director of the Office of Mainland Southeast Asia, and Director of the Office of Southern European Affairs.  He also was Deputy Director of the Office of Monetary Affairs in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs.

Mr. Marciel earned an MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and a BA in International Relations from the University of California at Davis.  He was born and raised in Fremont, California, and is married with two children.

publications

Books
March 2023

Imperfect Partners

Author(s)
Imperfect Partners

In The News

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken meets with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on August 5, 2022.
Commentary

From Foe to Friend: Explaining the Development of US–Vietnam Relations

The development of US–Vietnam ties is remarkable, and their partnership is marked by regular and constructive engagement.
From Foe to Friend: Explaining the Development of US–Vietnam Relations
Residents of the Tamwe area protest against the military coup while shouting slogans during a candle light vigil on April 03, 2021 in Yangon, Myanmar.
Commentary

With ASEAN Stuck, It Is Up to U.S. to Lead on Myanmar

BURMA Act can open way for stronger support to resistance movement
With ASEAN Stuck, It Is Up to U.S. to Lead on Myanmar
Scot Marciel speaking with Gita Wirjawan
Commentary

Video Interview: Scot Marciel Examines Southeast Asia’s Geopolitical Evolution

Ambassador Marciel, the Oksenberg-Rohlen Fellow at APARC, joined Visiting Scholar Gita Wirjawan, host of the video podcast Endgame, to discuss the transformations Southeast Asian nations are undergoing and their implications for U.S. policy.
Video Interview: Scot Marciel Examines Southeast Asia’s Geopolitical Evolution
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