Not surprisingly. he was honored in 2013 with a Distinguished Honor Award from the State Department "in recognition of [his] groundbreaking work to create the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilizations Operations. promote peacebuilding and empower women. youth and other change agents." Prior to CSO. Ambassador Barton served as the U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. codirector of the PostConflict Reconstruction Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Deputy High Commissioner of the United Nations Refugee Agency. and founding Director of USAIDs Office of Transition Initiatives. Ambassador Bartons diplomatic career began as an election trainer and observer in Latin America. a region that is dear to both our hearts. Mr.