Posted: 12:40 am ET
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Yesterday, the SFRC held a confirmation hearing for three nominees. The nomination of career diplomat Krishna R. Urs to be the U.S. Ambassador to Peru was a late addition to the panel, so this is a catch-up post.
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Time: 02:00 PM
Location: SD-419
Presiding: Senator Rubio
The live video and the prepared testimony is available here.
Below is the report submitted to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee:
SUBJECT: Ambassadorial Nomination: Certificate o Demonstrated Competence — Foreign Service Act, Section 304(a)(4)
POST: Republic of Peru
CANDIDATE: Krishna Raj Urs
Krishna Urs, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, is the Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy, Madrid, Spain (2017) where he was also the Deputy Chief of Mission (2014-2017). In his three decades of service in the State Department Mr. Urs has specialized in economic issues and has extensive policy experience in the Andean region of South America. He also has considerable knowledge of the workings of the U.S. government and served as the Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs (2013-2014) and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Transportation Affairs (2010-2013). As a three- time Deputy Chief of Mission, and as Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy, La Paz, Bolivia (2008). Mr. Urs honed his well-regarded skills as a leader of diverse interagency teams, as a manager of complex programs, and as a mentor and role model. These skills, coupled with his experience as a policy maker, his considerable expertise on economic and trade issues, and his impressive substantive knowledge of Peru and of the Andean region make him an excellent candidate for U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Peru.
Among his overseas assignments, Mr. Urs served as Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy La Paz, Bolivia (2006-2009, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission and Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (2000-2003) and Counselor for Economic Affairs, U.S. Embassy, Lima Peru. In the State Department in Washington, D.C., Mr. Urs’ positions included assignments as Director of the Office of Aviation Negotiations, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (2009-2010), and Director of the Office of Economic Policy and Summit Coordination, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (2003-2006).
Mr. Urs earned a M.S. from the University of Texas in 1984 and a B.S. from Georgetown University in 1980. He has been the recipient of thirteen notable senior State Department awards, including a Presidential Meritorious Service Award. Mr. Urs speaks fluent Spanish as well as some Hindi and Telegu.
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