Daily Archives: December 25, 2009

Confirmed on 12/24: State Dept/USAID Nominations

December 25, 2009 By in Ambassadors, Confirmations, U.S. Missions, USAID

The following civilian Executive Nominations for the State Department and USAID were confirmed by the Senate yesterday, December 24, 2009. You will note that two nominees subjected to a lengthy Senate hold, Thomas Shannon (for Brazil) and Alan D. Solomont (for Spain) have now been confirmed. Dr. Rajiv Shah’s nomination to be USAID Administrator was also confirmed.

PN504 * BRAZIL
Thomas Alfred Shannon, Jr., of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Federative Republic of Brazil.

PN798 * EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Alberto M. Fernandez, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

PN822 * MAURITIUS/REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES
Mary Jo Wills, of the District of Columbia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Mauritius, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Seychelles.

PN874 * SPAIN/ANDORRA
Alan D. Solomont, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Spain, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Andorra.

PN934 * MOZAMBIQUE
Leslie V. Rowe, of Washington, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Mozambique.

PN1004 * SERBIA
Mary Burce Warlick, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Serbia.

PN1052 * BULGARIA
James B. Warlick, Jr., of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Bulgaria.

PN1065 * URUGUAY
David Daniel Nelson, of Minnesota, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

PN1074 * HUNGARY
Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis, of California, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Hungary.

PN1092 * COSTA RICA
Anne Slaughter Andrew, of Indiana, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Costa Rica.

PN1158 * USAID
Rajiv J. Shah, of Washington, to be Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

December 25, 2009 By in Blognotes

Dear readers — may your holidays be merry and full of joy in the company of loved ones and good friends. Our thoughts and good wishes also go to our men and women in uniform and civilians in the war zones, and our Foreign Service personnel on unaccompanied assignments in difficult places around the world. May your holidays be quiet and peaceful; and may the universe keep you safe wherever you are!

A person dressed as Santa Claus salutes the U.S. flag aboard the U.S. Navy attack submarine USS Boise (SSN 764) as the colors are shifted after the submarine’s return to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., Dec. 23, 2008, after a six-month deployment. While deployed, Boise participated in five anti-submarine warfare exercises with several European allies. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Todd A. Schaffer/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Haggins, dressed as Santa Claus, presents a gift to a Filipino child during Operation Goodwill at the Manila Day Care Center in Manila, Philippines, Dec. 16, 2009. (That’s Ambassador Kristie Kenney between Santa and little girl). The operation gives U.S. Marines and their families stationed in Okinawa, Japan, an opportunity to spread goodwill in the region during the holiday season. (DoD photo by Sgt. Leon M. Branchaud, U.S. Marine Corps/Released)

Veterans’ memorials and gravesites across the nation will be adorned with remembrance wreaths on Dec. 15 through a program known as Wreaths Across America. Some 32,144 wreaths are scheduled to be placed in cemeteries and memorials on that day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi) .