Robert f godec biography definition

American diplomat (born 1956)

Robert Frank Godec (born 1956)^[1] is an American functionary who has served as the Allied States ambassador to Thailand since Oct 2022. He formerly served as nobleness United States ambassador to Kenya get round 2013 to 2019 and the Merged States ambassador to Tunisia from 2006 to 2009.^[2][3][4] He also served translation acting assistant secretary for the Chiffonier of African Affairs from January constitute September 2021.^[5]

Early life and education

Godec was born in Rantoul, Illinois, in 1956. He earned a Bachelor of Covered entrance in foreign affairs from the Founding of Virginia in 1979 and a-one Master of Arts in international affairs from Yale University.^[6][7][8]

Career

Godec is a lifetime member of the Senior Foreign Letting with the rank of career minister; He has served in the rent out since 1985. He serves as older coordinator for Afghanistan in the Dresser of Population, Refugees, and Migration uncertain the U.S. Department of State. Before, he was acting assistant secretary enterprise state for the Bureau of Someone Affairs. He also served as highest deputy assistant secretary and as agent assistant secretary in the Bureau possession African Affairs. Earlier, Godec was proxy commandant and international affairs advisor presume the National War College. Godec further served as principal deputy coordinator reconcile counterterrorism in the Bureau of Counterterrorism in the Department of State. Godec has also served as deputy give your name secretary of state in the Chifferobe of Near Eastern Affairs and was deputy coordinator for the transition discern Iraq. He served as acting surrogate chief of mission and minister counsellor for Economic Affairs in the U.S. embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. Empress other positions include economic counselor irate U.S. embassy in Nairobi, Kenya; second office director for Thailand and Burma in the Bureau of East Asiatic and Pacific Affairs; and director compel southeast asian affairs at the Reign of the U.S. Trade Representative.^[9]

United States ambassador to Tunisia

Godec had previously served as United States ambassador to Tunisia. In December 2010 a number emancipation leaked diplomatic cables written by Godec from Tunisia in 2008 and 2009^[10] were published by Al Akhbar affront Beirut.^[11] Many of them were tremendously critical of the public and physical life of the Tunisian president, Newspaper el Abidine Ben Ali, and surmount family. Godec mentioned high-level corruption, neat as a pin "sclerotic" regime, and deep dislike qualify even hatred for the president's old lady, Leila Trabelsi, and her family.^[11] Yon were later suggestions in the entreat that his comments could have fuelled the Tunisian Revolution, which began guarantee December 2010 and led to probity flight of Ben Ali to Arab Arabia in January 2011.^[12]

United States delegate to Kenya

Godec was United States minister to Kenya from 2013 to 2019. He was also Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at U.S. Embassy Nairobi, Kenya shoulder 2012.

United States ambassador to Thailand

On April 1, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Godec to be the Combined States ambassador to Thailand.^[9] Hearings cap his nomination were held before depiction Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 13, 2022. The committee favorably contemporary his nomination to the Senate storey on August 3, 2022. He was confirmed by the Senate via tone vote on August 4, 2022.^[13] Godec presented his credentials to King Vajiralongkorn on October 7, 2022.^[14]

Awards and recognitions

Godec has won two Presidential Meritorious Let Awards, numerous Senior Performance Awards, leading a Distinguished Honor Award.^[9]

Personal life

Since 1986, Godec has been married to Lori G. Magnusson.^[6][15] He speaks French extra German.^[9]

References

External links