Rebecca E. Gonzales

Rebecca Eliza Gonzales (born May 19, 1963) is an American diplomat who serves as the director of the Office of Foreign Missions since 2022. She served as the United States ambassador to Lesotho from 2018 to 2022.

Rebecca Gonzales
Director of the Office of Foreign Missions
Assumed office
May 31, 2022
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byCliff Seagroves (acting)
United States Ambassador to Lesotho
In office
February 8, 2018 – February 4, 2022
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded byMatthew T. Harrington
Succeeded byMaria Brewer
Personal details
Born (1963-05-19) May 19, 1963
Sumter, South Carolina, U.S.
EducationGeorge Washington University (BA, MBA)
National Defense University (MS)

Early life and education

Gonzales was born on May 19, 1963, in Sumter, South Carolina.[1] She earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration from the George Washington University and a Master of Science from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at Fort Lesley J. McNair.[2]

Career

Gonzales is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service; she has been a diplomat since 1992.[2] Gonzales has served diplomatic assignments in Panama City, Athens, Bogotá, New Delhi, Riyadh, Gaborone, and Pretoria.[1] She previously served as chief of staff of the Bureau of Administration at the United States Department of State.[1]

Ambassador to Lesotho

On September 7, 2017, President Donald Trump announced Gonzales as the nominee to serve as the United States ambassador to Lesotho.[2] On November 1, 2017, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and her nomination was reported out of committee on November 14, 2017. On November 16, 2017, her nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote.[3]

Biden administration

On August 4, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Gonzales to serve as the director of the Office of Foreign Missions.[4] On September 13, 2021, her nomination was sent to the Senate.[5] On March 15, 2022, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and she was reported out of committee on March 23. On May 19, 2022, her nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote.[6] She assumed office on May 31, 2022.[7]

Personal life

Gonzales speaks Spanish and Greek.

References
  1. Straehley, Steve (October 24, 2017). "United States Ambassador to Lesotho: Who Is Rebecca Eliza Gonzales?". AllGov. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  2. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Key Additions to his Administration". whitehouse.gov. September 7, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017 – via National Archives.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. "PN1011 - Nomination of Rebecca Eliza Gonzales for Department of State, 115th Congress (2017-2018)". www.congress.gov. November 16, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  4. "President Biden Announces Intent to Nominate Nine Foreign Policy and National Security Leaders" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. August 4, 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. "Nominations and Withdrawal Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. September 13, 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. "PN1059 - Nomination of Rebecca Eliza Gonzales for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  7. "Ambassador Rebecca E. Gonzales". United States Department of State. May 31, 2022. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
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