His Excellency Adrian Vierita is Romania’s Ambassador to the United States. Prior to his US posting he served as State Secretary for European Affairs with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Romanian Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. Mr. Vierita is a career member of the Diplomatic Corps of Romania and has held various executive positions with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Chief of Staff of the State Secretary coordinating relations with Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America, Deputy Director of the United Nations and International Organizations Directorate, Director of the Central and South-East Europe Directorate and General Director for European and Transatlantic Affairs.

Samuel Wells, associate director of the Wilson Center, and director of the West European Studies Program will chair the event. Dr. Wells earned his PhD from Harvard University and specializes in US foreign and security policy, and US-European relations. He is a contributor and co-editor of The Strategic Triangle: France, Germany, and the United States in the Shaping of the New Europe.