Kosnett's previous assignment was as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim at the United States Embassy in Ankara, Turkey.

Kosnett grew up in New Jersey and Illinois and graduated with an Artium Baccalaureus (Bachelor of Arts) in Government from Harvard University in 1982.

[2][3][4] Kosnett worked as a game designer during his enrollment in high school and college, primarily for the company Simulations Publications, Inc. in New York.

[5] He then launched a career in the Foreign Service, with his first assignment in Ankara, Turkey, serving as a political and consular officer.

[5][6] He also served in other political, political-military, and economic-commercial positions at the US missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, the Netherlands, and Japan.

[2] In July 2016, Kosnett began working at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, initially as the Deputy Chief of Mission.