Carpenter was a career officer with the
United States Foreign Service. He served as deputy director of the Office of Russian Affairs, special assistant for the
under secretary for political affairs, political-military officer in the Office of European Security, and political affairs and advisor on regional conflicts in the Office of Caucasus Affairs and Regional Conflicts. He served underseas in the U.S. Embassies in Poland, Slovenia, and Barbados. Carpenter then worked in the White House as a special advisor for Europe and Eurasia to then-Vice President Biden and as director for Russia at the
National Security Council. From 2015 to 2017, he served in the Pentagon as deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia, and Conventional Arms Control. He has most recently worked as the managing director of the
Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement.
US Ambassador to OSCE On June 23, 2021, President
Joe Biden nominated Carpenter as U.S. Representative to the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), with the rank of Ambassador. On October 19, 2021, his nomination was reported favorably out of committee. On November 3, 2021, he was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote. Carpenter resigned in April 2024; his final permanent council session was on March 14, 2024. ==Personal life==