Bucharest, Romania

Currently editing INMEM MGySgt Valdez, MEGA Who's Who, MSG Dets: Rio, Bucharest, Saigon

Send updates / corrections to history@msghistory.com

SHIPS STORE
Detachment Photos: Photo Album
Contact MSGHistory - Bucharest Detachment
Map: US Embassy, Bucharest

FACEBOOK: US Embassy Bucharest
FACEBOOK: MCESG MSGDuty Group
FACEBOOK: MEGA Group
Together we Served: Bucharest MSG Detachment

YOUTUBE: US Embassy Bucharest
YOUTUBE: (2026 - January) Protest outside US Embassy (Support for ongoing Iran Protests)
YOUTUBE: (2017 - March 17) St. Patrick's Day
YOUTUBE: (2016) Independence Day Celebration
YOUTUBE: (2022) Charges D'Affairs - David Muniz Interview
YOUTUBE: (2013) Andrea Dezso installs her mural at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest

COUNTRY INFORMATION

Economy: Market-oriented economy, EU member since 2007, with strong sectors in IT, manufacturing, and energy.
Government: Constitutional republic with a multiparty system.
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea
Geography:
Carpathian Mountains: The nation's backbone, divided into Eastern, Southern (Transylvanian Alps), and Western ranges, providing the source for most rivers.
Transylvanian Plateau: Located in the center of the country, surrounded by the Carpathian arc
Danube River: Forms a significant portion of the southern border and flows into the Black Sea via the Danube Delta, a major UNESCO World Heritage site.
Highest Point: Moldoveanu Peak (2,544 meters) in the Southern Carpathians.
Plains: The Lower Danube Plain in the south and the Western Plain (part of the Pannonian Plain) are key agricultural areas.
Borders: Ukraine (northeast), Moldova (east), Bulgaria (south), Serbia (southwest), and Hungary (west) A 245-km coastline on the Black Sea
Population : 18.84 million (Estimate)
Culture / Lifestyle:
Climate: Continental with4 distinct seasons—cold, dry winters and hot summers, with shorter spring and autumn.
Biodiversity: Contains large areas of undisturbed forests (covering nearly 27% of the territory) and a high population of brown bears and wolves.
Government: Public authority of executive power . Vote of confidence granted by Parliament.
Economy:
GDP Growth: Forecasts -- some analysts cutting 2026 growth predictions to 0.6% Other projections range up to 1.1%–1.2%
Inflation & Rates: relatively high, predicted around 5.9%–6.5%.
History (1950 - Present)
Communist Rule: Post-WWII, Romania became a Soviet-aligned socialist republic until a violent uprising in December 1989 overthrew dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu.
EU & NATO: Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007
Official Language: Romanian
Religion: Romanian Orthodox Church (85%)
Currency: Leu

Diplomatic Relations:
Presidential visits to Romania
SECSTATE visits to Romania

List of US ambassadors Romania
List of Natural Disasters to Romania
Terrorism Risk in Romania

U.S. Embassy: Buchrest
Britannica: Romania
Google: Romania
WikiNews: Romania
WikiTravel: Romania
Wikipedia: Romania
DOS Country Info: Romania
DOS History: Romania
Travel: Romania
Time: Romania
Weather: Romania
Phrase Book: Romanian
Al Jazeera: Romania
Exchange Rate: 1USD = 4,36RON Romanian Leu (22Feb2026)
Google News: Romania

DETACHMENT HISTORY

2025
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:

2025
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:2025
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:

2009
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:
Tristan Ackers-Akacich (TWS) (Bulgaria, Jerusalem, Bucharest)

2008
Detachment Commander:
Watchstanders:

1989
NCOIC: GySgt. John Northcott (LinkedIn) (TWA)
Watchstanders:
MSG Detachment Bucharest, Romania Company A’s and MSG Battalion’s “Most Improved Detachment” and “Detachment of the Year”

1988
NCOIC:
GySgt. John Northcott (LinkedIn) (TWA)
1974 - 75 Lagos, Athens NCOIC- 1984 - 88 Rio de Janeiro, Bucharest,
MCESG MSG School 1986 - 88 Instructor / Advisor
Watchstanders:
*1985 -1988 MSG Battalion came under intense scrutiny because of the Sergeant Clayton J. Lonetree, Soviet KGB espionage case, where a majority of the Soviet Bloc country Detachment Commanders were either transfer to non-bloc counties, or relieved of their commands. With this enormous instantaneous hole in the MSG Detachment Commander population, five Instructor/Advisors plus Chief Instructor were reassigned to Bloc embassies within weeks of the allegations at the Moscow U.S. Embassy.
1988 (GySgt. John Northcott was assigned to the U.S. Embassy, Bucharest, Romania inheriting a Detachment in turmoil and financial trouble, rated at the bottom of MSG Company “A.”
1989 MSG Detachment, Bucharest, Romania, was selected as both Company A’s and MSG Battalion’s “Most Improved Detachment” and “Detachment of the Year”

NCOIC:
Watchstanders:

1982
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
Timothy L. Arndt (TWS) 1982-85 Bucharest, London, Lusaka

1979
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:
Gary R. Andree (TWS) 1979-82 Bucharest, Athens

1978
NCOIC:
Watchstanders:

Gary R. Andree (TWS) 1978-80 Bucharest, Athens

NCOIC:
Watchstanders:

John A. Northcott Jr. (TWA)
Baker, Kevin, Sgt (TWA) 1974 - 1976 Vienna, Bucharest, Oslo,

Brent Bennett (TWA) (LinkedIn) 1992 - 1994 Bucharest, Bujumbura
MSG Bn 1994-1995 H&S Company

Matthew Bertsch (TWA) (LinkedIn) 2000 - 2001 Bucharest

Rob Boles (TWA) (LinkedIn) (Facebook) 1987 - 1991 Bucharest, Caracas, Port au Prince, Bogota

Martin P. Brady (TWA) (Facebook) 1980 - 1982 Bucharest, Santiago

Christopher Campbell (TWA) 2008 - 2011 New Delhi, Bucharest, Lome

Leroy Dalton (TWA) (Facebook) 1987 - 1990 Bucharest, Freetown, Monrovia

Terry F. Daniel (TWA) 1990 - 1991 Burcharest

Stephen M. Dunshee (TWA) (Facebook) 1973 - 1975 Bucharest, Vienna

Miguel A. Danzot (TWA) (LinkedIn) (Facebook) 1982 - 1983 Tokyo (NCOIC) 1997 - 2001 Bucharest, Shanghai

John Edington (TWA) (Facebook) 1988 - 1990 Bucharest, San Jose

Steve Elbert (TWA) 1988 - 1991 Athens, Bucharest, San Jose

Justin R. Gates (TWA) (LinkedIn) (Facebook) (Combat Logistics Battalion 12)
2008 - 2010 Beijing, Bucharest

Gates, Justin R., SSgt