CHSS Distinguished Alumni - Russian and Eurasian Studies

Carter Wilbur

BA Area Studies; International Studies '91

Carter Wilbur is currently the foreign policy advisor to U.S. Special Operations Command Europe. Previously, as a senior diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus (2022-2025), he led crisis response, humanitarian relief, and anti-money laundering efforts. 

During his State Department career, Wilbur served in Washington, D.C. (2020-2022) working on global trade issues, including securing America’s medical supply chains during the pandemic. He also served as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Command (2018-2020), training Marine Raiders and supporting their pre-deployment preparations. His earlier diplomatic postings include leadership and economic roles at U.S. Embassies in Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Malawi, and Bangladesh, and a detail assignment to the Asian Development Bank. 

Before joining the State Department, Wilbur served as a U.S. Army artillery officer, having received his commission through George Mason University's ROTC. He also received a Juris Doctor from Tulane Law School in 1995 and practiced law, then worked in the Caribbean charter yacht industry.