He served as American ambassador to Latvia in the George W. Bush administration and he currently advises international media and audience analysis firm InterMedia Research Institute on strategic communication matters.
He is a contributing author to the forthcoming Georgetown University Press book Mission Creep: The Militarization of U.S. Foreign Policy and co-author with Dr. Robert Banks of a 2014 study on the evaluation of diplomacy for the U.S. Department of State.
Since joining Reston Runners in 1998, Carlson has completed nine marathons in cities such as New York, San Diego, Riga, Daugavpils, and Washington, DC.
A 1969 graduate of Vanderbilt University, Brian Carlson served 36 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, rising to the rank of Career Minister.
After retiring from the Foreign Service, Carlson led several inspection teams in the Middle East and Washington for the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors.