Appointments and Resignations
Ambassador from St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Who is La Celia Prince?
La Celia A. Prince was appointed ambassador to the U.S. from The small (population 120,000) Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on May 30, 2008. She is the youngest ambassador to the United States from any nation.
Born in Ki... read more
Ambassador from Latvia: Who Is Andrejs Pildegovičs?
Since July 2007, the ambassador to the U.S. from Latvia has been Andrejs Pildegovičs, a career diplomat who has defended U.S. spending on the Latvian military as necessary to the ongoing war in Afghanistan and to US security interests generally.... read more
Ambassador from Sierra Leone: Who Is Bockari Kortu Stevens?
Bockari Kortu Stevens has served as ambassador to the U.S. from Sierra Leone since November 2007. In addition to his position in the U.S., he also represents his country to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, Canada, Jamaica, Brazil... read more
Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms: Who Is B. Todd Jones?
In the wake of recent revelations that an undercover ATF operation designed to track illegal guns purchased in the U.S. to Mexican drug cartels has lost track of more than 1,000 guns, Acting ATF Director Ken Melson was re-assigned to the Justice D... read more
Director of Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia: Who Is Nancy Ware?
On August 2, 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Nancy M. Ware to serve as the Director of the District of Columbia Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), a large agency that supervises offenders who are on probation, parole,... read more
Ambassador to Macedonia: Who is Paul Wohlers
Paul D. Wohlers, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, was confirmed as U.S. ambassador to the Balkan nation of Macedonia on August 2, 2011. Wohlers has previous experience in Macedonia.
Born circa 1952, Wohlers graduated from the ... read more
Ambassador to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau: Who is Lewis Lukens?
Lewis Lukens, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, has served as the U.S. ambassador to Senegal and to Guinea-Bissau since July 11, 2011. As the son of a diplomat, Lukens once lived in Senegal as a child.
His father, Alan W. Lukens... read more
Ambassador to Armenia: Who is John Heffern?
John Heffern, a career diplomat who has spent much of his career working in East Asia, was nominated in May 2011 to serve as ambassador to Armenia. However, his nomination has been held up by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) as a protest agai... read more
Ambassador to Vietnam: Who is David Shear?
It took almost eight months after his nomination, but veteran Foreign Service officer David B. Shear officially became the ambassador to Vietnam, on August 4, 2011. Shear’s appointment was held up after Senators from both parties placed multiple... read more
Ambassador to Israel: Who is Dan Shapiro?
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel B. Shapiro is a long-time foreign policy professional with extensive experience dealing with issues pertaining to the Middle East. As an observant and active member of the Jewish community, Shapiro’s role has bee... read more
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict: Who Is Mike Lumpkin?
Michael D. Lumpkin was sworn in as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC) on April 25, 2011. In this job, Lumpkin assists the Assistant Secretary of Defense (SO/LIC) in developi... read more
Ambassador to Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Nauru: Who is Frankie Reed?
Career diplomat Frankie Annette Reed has been chosen to serve as ambassador to the Pacific island nations of Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Nauru. Her Senate confirmation hearing was held on June 29, 2011, and she was confirmed on August 3.
... read more
Ambassador to Guatemala: Who is Arnold Chacon?
After 30 years in the Foreign Service, Arnold A. Chacon received his first appointment as ambassador, to Guatemala, in June 2011. He was confirmed by the Senate on August 2.
Originally from Denver, Chacon is a graduate of the University of C... read more
Ambassador from Singapore: Who is Chan Heng Chee?
Chan Heng Chee has served as Singapore’s ambassador to the United States since July 1996.
Born circa 1942, Chan Heng Chee earned her B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1964 and 1966, respe... read more
Acting Director of the Office of Indian Education: Who is Jenelle Leonard?
The Acting Director of the Office of Indian Education since August 2010, Jenelle Leonard has more than 30 years of experience as an educator, including work as a public school teacher and administrator, a technology implementation and training c... read more
Ambassador to United Arab Emirates: Who is Michael Corbin?
A career diplomat with extensive experience in the Middle East, Michael H. Corbin was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 5, 2011, and confirmed by the Senate on June 30. He was swo... read more