The new ambassador to the West African nation of Sierra Leone is a career diplomat who has served extensively in Africa. Currently serving as director of the Office of Regional and Security Affairs for the Bureau of African Affairs at the State Department, John F. Hoover was nominated by President Obama on July 9 and confirmed by the Senate August 1. Hoover succeeded Ambassador Michael Owen, who served in Freetown starting in August 2010.
Born circa 1964, Hoover earned an A.B. at Princeton University.
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, John Hoover has served in a number of overseas assignments, mostly in Africa and Asia, though his earliest foreign posting was service as a consular officer in Paris, France, from 1988 to 1990.
He also served as political-economic and consular officer at the embassy in Mbabane, Swaziland, from 1990 to 1992, as economic officer at the American Institute of Taiwan (the de facto U.S. mission since the U.S. recognized the People’s Republic of China in 1979) in Taipei from 1997 to 2000, and as political-economic chief at the consulate in Shanghai, China, from 2000 to 2004.
Hoover then served two straight postings in Africa, as economic counselor at the embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, from 2004 to 2008, and as deputy chief of mission at the embassy in Kampala, Uganda, from 2008 to 2010.
John Hoover is married to Kathy Hoover.
-Matt Bewig
To Learn more:
Statement Before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (pdf)
