Washington, DC - Today, Stephen Haykin was sworn in as Mission Director for Georgia for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia Paige Alexander administered the oath.

As Mission Director, Haykin will support Georgia's transition to a free and prosperous democracy and manage programs that accelerate economic growth, develop democratic institutions, enhance energy security and safeguard the environment, and improve health and education.

Haykin begins his new assignment after just recently serving as Mission Director for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where he was responsible for managing health, economic growth, democracy and governance, peace and security, environmental and humanitarian assistance programs. He previously served as Mission Director for Kenya from 2005 to 2007. During his tenure in Kenya, USAID's country program grew significantly. From 2004-2005, he was the Mission Director for Madagascar, the post where he arrived in 2002 as Supervisory Project Development Officer and led the Mission through the country's political, economic, and humanitarian crisis of 2002. He was recognized for his leadership with a Distinguished Honor Award.

Haykin began his career at USAID in 1986 through the International Development Intern program, and served as a Program Economist in the Africa Bureau, Kenya, DRC, Guinea, Ghana, and the Asia and Near East Bureau, and Program Officer in the Europe and Eurasia Bureau.

Haykin, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, has a bachelor's degree from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, and a master's degrees in Economics and Foreign Service from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He is married to Constantine Kike of Kinshasa, DRC, and has three children. He speaks French fluently.

During his remarks at the ceremony, Haykin stated, "I am delighted that I have been given the opportunity to return to the Europe and Eurasia Bureau and contribute to the excellent work that USAID has been doing in Georgia. I look forward to working with the entire US Government team in Georgia to further strengthen our strong relations with Georgia and assist in the country's remarkable development progress."

For more information about USAID, visit www.usaid.gov.