João Mira Gomes

Date of birth: 4 December 1959, in Lisbon
Marital status: Married, with two children

Education:

• Graduated in Law, Faculty of Human Sciences, Portuguese Catholic University

Career in Outline:

• Joined the Portuguese Diplomatic Service, 1984;
• Permanent Delegation of Portugal to NATO, 1987-1993;
• Spokesman, European Community Monitor Mission on the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (during the Portuguese Presidency of the European Council), 1st Semester 1992;
• Diplomatic advisor to the Governor of Macau, 1993-1996;
• Counsellor of Embassy, 1994;
• Chief of Cabinet of the Director General for Political Affairs, 1996;
• Special Coordinator for the Western Balkans (1997-1999);
• Director of the Common Foreign Security Policy Department and European Correspondent, 1997-2000;
• Chargé d’Affaires at the Portuguese Embassy in Sofia, 2000-2001;
• Deputy Head of Mission at the Portuguese Embassy in Paris, 2001-2005;
• Minister Plenipotentiary 2nd class, 2002;
• Minister Plenipotentiary 1st class, 2005;
• Representative of Portugal to the Political and Security Committee of the European Union (PSC) and Permanent Representative to the Western European Union (WEU), 2005-2006;
• Secretary of State for National Defence and Maritime Affairs, 2006-2009;
• Full-rank Ambassador, 2010;
• Permanent Representative on the North Atlantic Council, Sept 2010.

Decorations:

Commander of the Order of Merit, France; Knight of the Order of Infante D. Henrique, Portugal; Officer of the Order of Rio Branco, Brazil; Knight of the Order of Danneberg, Denmark; Knight of the Order de la Couronne de Chaine, Luxembourg; Member of the Order of the British Empire, United Kingdom.